What are Shishkin’s Odds for the 2021 Cheltenham Festival?

One of the star names in the Nicky Henderson yard, Shishkin, made the perfect start over fences at Kempton this week and his odds for the 2021 Cheltenham Festvial are only set to get shorter.

The 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner was foot perfect over the bigger obstacles at Kempton and his trainer was full of praise for the performance under jockey Nico de Boinville.

But after that performance, what are Shishkin’s odds for the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and what race will he run in?

 

Shiskin’s Cheltenham 2021 Odds

• Arkle Trophy (Tuesday) – 7/4
• Marsh Novices’ Chase (Thursday) – 10/1

 

Nicky Henderson’s Reaction

“I think you’ve got to give him praise as it was 10 out of 10 really,” said Henderson.

“He proved he could do it both ways as when he wants to be flamboyant then he’s got loads of scope – he was getting a bit showy-offy at times – but going down to the last there wasn’t really a stride there at all and he was nimble on his feet and away.

“So he can do it both ways and that’s what we’re all looking for.

“It was a good school for him and it’s a good track for him to come to – there are no traps here. It’s a lovely place to start them off.

“You can see what he can do when he is long.

“You just pray he doesn’t go too long sometimes and try to do something silly to get out of trouble.

“He was very sensible.

“He was very good from day one, we haven’t done a lot of schooling with him at all.”

 

Shiskin’s Cheltenham Festival Odds

Following the performance, all the major bookmakers had no choice but to trim Shishkin’s odds for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Before his race at Kempton he was available at around 5/2 for the Day 1 race, but the best odds available for Shishkin to win the Arkle are now 7/4 with a number of bookmakers including bet365, William Hill and Paddy Power.

10Bet and SportNation are taking no chances, offering just 5/4 for Henderson’s star to win on Tuesday at Cheltenham but with four months still to go, would you want to take 7/4?

He was the winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle earlier this year, going off 6/1 and beating Abacadabras in a titanic battle up the Cheltenham hill. Abacadabras looks set to line up in the Champion Hurdle in 2021.

 

Shishkin’s Next Race

The most likely target for the six-year-old is the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, back at Kempton over Christmas. This is the race Nicky Henderson has pin pointed as the preparation for Cheltenham continues.

It is a race that the great Altior won on his way to winning the Arkle at Cheltenham. It is only a Grade 2 race so it is likely we won’t see Shiskin stretched in December either.

 

Shiskin’s Arkle Challengers

In the latest betting odds for the Arkle, Envoi Allen is the second favourite at around 10/1-12/1 with Felix Desjy, Unexpected and Klassical Dream all around 16/1.

Unless something improves dramatically, it is hard to see what will beat Shishkin over the 2m trip at Cheltenham in March.

 

Cheltenham Festival Tips

As the Cheltenham Festival 2021 build-up continues you will see more and more of our Cheltenham Festival betting tips for ante-post bets.

There will also be key news and odds movements as the big guns run in their prep races.

Look out for all of the following tips:

• Ante-post Cheltenham tips
• Cheltenham Festival accumulator tips
• Lucky 15 selections and Cheltenham
• Early price boosts ahead of the Festival
• Best odds guaranteed and other betting offers

Relevant news