There was top class horse racing action on both sides of the Irish Sea over the weekend as a number of horses impressed in their respective races.
Shishkin and Energumene served up arguably the race of the season so far in the Clarence House at Ascot on Saturday, while the Inaugural Winter Million festival took part at Lingfield.
In Ireland, there was racing at Navan and Thurles, with dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll among the horses in action.
Here's what we learned with a view to Cheltenham, which is now only 50 days away, over the weekend:
Hard to see Energumene reverse form with Shishkin in Champion Chase
There is only one place to start and that is with Shishkin's incredible Clarence House win over Energumene at Ascot.
Mick Fitzgerald perfectly summed up the race on ITV by saying: "It lived up to all the billing, very rarely does that happen."
But it did happen on Saturday afternoon and the great thing is that these top class two milers will do it all again in just over seven weeks time in the Champion Chase.
Energumene looked the most likely winner approaching the second last fence, but Shishkin's trademark turbo kicked in on the run-in after the last fence and he prevailed by a length.
And it's very hard to see any reason why Energumene will reverse the form with Nicky Henderson's star at Prestbury Park.
Shishkin has won both the Supreme and Arkle at the last two festivals, whereas Energumene will be visiting the Cotswolds for the first time after missing last year's meeting due to lameness.
Given Cheltenham's tough uphill finish and the fact that all Shishkin was doing was staying on at Ascot when Energumene appeared to have little left to offer, I can only see the gap between them getting wider come March, although the distance will be slightly less which could help Willie Mullins' runner.
Allaho will be hard to beat in Ryanair
Allaho enhanced his Ryanair credentials with a 12-length victory over Fakir D'Oudairies at Thurles on Saturday and he will be very hard to beat at Cheltenham as he bids to defend his crown.
He is now generally priced at 5-4 for the 2m4½f contest that he won ten months ago when beating Fakir D'Oudairies by the exact same distance.
Looking at the betting for the Ryanair, it is hard to see many dangers to the ante-post favourite, with Energumene likely to go for the Champion Chase, while a couple of the others towards the top of the market have also never won at Cheltenham.
Saint Calvados might run him closest, having finished a neck second in the race to Min and 2020 when he was trained by Harry Whittington. He ran well for a long time in the King George when having his first run for Paul Nicholls on St Stephen's Day.
Jonbon faces massive challenge against Constitution Hill and Dysart Dynamo
The market for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle has changed constantly over the past few months with Constitution Hill, Dysart Dynamo and Jonbon all battling it out for favouritism.
After Constitution Hill and Dysart Dynamo both bolted up in recent weeks, it was the turn of Jonbon on Saturday at Haydock.
Unlike his first two starts over hurdles, the JP McManus-owned full brother to Douvan didn't make the running and although things were not not entirely straightforward for him, he ultimately got the job done.
After travelling freely behind the pacesetting pair of Richmond Lake and Donny Boy for much of the two-mile contest, Aidan Coleman asked Jonbon to move closer at the third flight from the finish, when he ran into the back of Donny Boy and had to switch inside.
Richmond Lake was still in with every chance at the final obstacle, as was Might I, who was last seen chasing home Constitution Hill at Sandown.
Just for a moment it looked like Richmond Lake might make a real race of it, but Jonbon found another gear after Coleman drew the whip and was three lengths clear at the line.
Some bookies pushed Jonbon out to 4/1 for the Supreme, with his stablemate Constitution Hill the outright favourite with all firms ahead of Dysart Dynamo after his Tolworth win earlier this month. The bookies might have it right and that could be the order they finish in if they all line up in the festival opener.
Gerri Colombe to go straight to Cheltenham after Thurles win
Gerri Colombe was cut from 12/1 to 10/1 for the Albert Bartlett after taking his racecourse record to four wins from four starts at Thurles on Sunday.
The six-year-old landed the BetVictor W.T. O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle, crossing the line a length and a quarter ahead of his nearest rival at odds of 4/9.
The victory came just days after Albert Bartlett ante-post favourite Blazing Khal was ruled out of Cheltenham after a minor setback in training.
Speaking after the race, trainer Gordon Elliott said: “He won in spite of the track and we were very worried about running him, but there is a lack of races.
“I didn’t think he had enough experience to go for a Grade One (at the Dublin Racing Festival) and Clonmel could have been a real slog. Jack said it was safe but as good as he wanted it.
“Jack was happy and said he was doing what he needed to do and he was the same in his bumpers.
“He half came off it with a circuit to go, but with a slap down the shoulder he goes again. I thought it was a good performance.
“He’ll go straight to Cheltenham, probably for the Albert Bartlett as he wants the maximum trip.”
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