Ross Millar: weekend reflections and best bets for Monday

As the old saying goes “form is temporary, class is permanent”. What a performance we were all treated to at Ascot on Saturday as Shishkin bounced back to form.

After successive lacklustre runs, in the Champion Chase and then the Tingle Creek, many felt he was a busted flush. However, Nicky Henderson knows a thing or two about rejuvenating top-class performers and has clearly again worked his magic.

From the moment he took a fierce grip against Nico De Boinville on the canter to the start it was obvious this was a very different Shishkin to the one who had looked so jaded at Sandown. Exuberant leaps at fences two and three merely reinforced that view.

Pic D’Orhy forced an honest pace and one by one the field dropped away, including the favourite Fakir D’oudairies who wasn’t aided by charting an inexplicably wide passage.

As they straightened up for home the only lingering question was how much Shishkin would find off the bridle. The answer was “bucket loads” with spring-heeled leaps at the final two fences showing he had plenty left in the tank as he powered to an emphatic victory.

I’ve often voiced my frustration at the factions of racing fans who grumble and mock when Henderson elects to swerve a race. Hopefully, this masterful piece of training will earn him some respite… for now.

It was also great to see Christian Williams land a big Saturday handicap as Cap Du Nord ran out a very ready winner of the Swinley Handicap Chase under Jack Tudor.

The retirement of stable stalwarts Win My Wings and Potters Corner has left the Welshman with a string largely made up of young, embryonic chasers so this season was always likely to be quieter than last, where he seemed to provide a Saturday winner most weekends.

I’m certain he will have his eyes on a few more decent pots yet.

Away from the main stage, it was heartening to see Bryony Frost land a treble at Wincanton. She’s found outside rides harder to come by this term so a winner for the Chris Gordon yard, who continue in red-hot form, was particularly nice to see.

The racing on Monday comes from Carlisle and Lingfield. I have three selections.

This looks a competitive race. Gavin Cromwell has had plenty of success when sending runners to the UK this season so Eyre Square automatically requires respect but I struggled to see a form line that entitled him to be favourite, so I’m prepared to take him on.

First Account was well supported in the market before his seasonal reappearance at Kelso but failed to land a blow after some moderate jumping. His next effort at Musselburgh was far better. On nicer ground he jumped and travelled smartly and looked the most likely winner for most of the race only to weaken tamely after the final fence. I think three miles stretched his stamina there and that this drop back to 2m4f on a stiffer track will be ideal.

He’s been dropped 4lb for those two runs and should be capable of winning this off a mark of 115. Brian Hughes has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and can guide Keith Dalgleish’s gelding to victory.

Universal Brook showed a significantly better level of form on her first start for Peter Bowen than she had in her six starts for Rebecca Curtis and can build on that here.

While her second-placed finish at Ffos Las was a good run I do suspect that connections might have come away feeling that they had the best horse in the race. If given the chance to ride the race again, I’m sure Ben Jones would hold on to her for a bit longer.

She travelled powerfully at all stages of the race at Ffos Las and this better ground and a furlong shorter trip will suit her run style.

Lazy Sunday is the mare to beat after a good win last time, but I felt a 5lb rise for that victory was harsh enough.

James Bowen has endured a lean spell over the past fortnight with just one winner from 20 rides but I’m confident Universal Brook will get him off the cold list here.

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have their team in fine form with a strike rate of 23% over the last two weeks testament to this. They’ll be hoping Post Chaise can win his third race on the spin but off a 9lb higher mark, and in a more competitive race, I think he must be opposed.

Conversely, Enqarde is dropping in grade after performing poorly this season.

However, he is a very capable performer when on form and it would be fair to say that his trainer, Dr Richard Newland, has his yard in better order now than when Enqarde last ran in December.

Crucially, he has also had a wind-op since that latest below par effort at Haydock.

I’m hopeful the combination of breathing surgery and a return to nicer ground can see an improved effort – as it did last season when he posted a good effort in a valuable race at Haydock when finishing second.

He does have a habit of jumping slightly to his left, which is a mild concern at this right-handed track, but given that he’s previously won at Ascot I’m not unduly concerned. If having his wind tinkered with has helped, then I have no doubt that he is the best horse in this race. And the best handicapped, too.