Nick Alexander is protecting his fingers crossed that Shishkin strains up at Newcastle on Saturday to present him the absolute best probability of bagging a second victory within the BetMGM Rehearsal Chase with Elvis Mail.
The Kinneston handler saddled secure stalwart Lake View Lad to land the celebrated handicap 5 years in the past and has excessive hopes for his newest candidate, who made a profitable begin to his marketing campaign when notching a fifth Kelso win in final month’s Edinburgh Gin Chase.
What complicates issues barely by way of this weekend’s race is the presence of Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin, who may make a swift reappearance below the welter burden of 12 stone after refusing to race in final Saturday’s 1965 Chase at Ascot.
If Shishkin does take his probability, Elvis Mail will carry simply 10st 1lb, but when Henderson decides towards sending his a number of Grade One winner to the North East, the weights will rise significantly, and it isn’t inconceivable that Elvis Mail himself may but find yourself carrying top-weight.
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Coach Nicky Henderson was left questioning the place to go subsequent after Shishkin’s refusal to start out within the 1965 Chase at Ascot
“I would love him to be working with 10st 1lb on his again. He is effectively and able to run once more and he’d actually be working if that was the case,” Alexander stated.
“If the top-weight would not run and the subsequent two (Ga Legislation and Datsalrightgino) have been to run at Newbury and he was to finish up with top-weight, then I would not make certain.
“He’ll in all probability run anyway. He received very properly at Kelso, we have been delighted with him and he is been nice since, so fingers crossed he is nonetheless nice on Saturday.”
Elvis Mail has received eight races in his profession to date, along with his 5 Kelso triumphs supplemented by a trio of wins at Ayr.
Alexander feels the character of Gosforth Park ought to swimsuit his cost simply nice, including: “He likes a galloping monitor and has run effectively at Doncaster.
“He would not need holding floor, so he may do with them getting a snow bathe or one thing, simply to maintain it on the wetter facet. He likes respectable floor as effectively, so he needs to be nice.
“I am very a lot wanting ahead to working him.”
Watch all of the motion from Newcastle on Saturday stay on Sky Sports activities Racing with the Rehearsal Chase at 3.05pm.