Shishkin (7-4 favourite) stayed on superbly to beat Ahoy Senor (4-1) and win the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase on the opening day of 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. And now the King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup next March are the targets for next season.
Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old, under Nico De Boinville, showed he has plenty of stamina to get up and wear down long-time leader Ahoy Senor late on to land the Grade One contest by a length and a half. Having been a star two-miler, Shishkin has slowly been moving up in trip. Having won his first 10 completed starts over obstacles, a run which included successive victories at the Cheltenham Festival and three Grade Ones, he stuttered last season. But he excelled over 2m5f in the Betfair Chase at Ascot in December, before disappointing slightly when beaten by Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase at last month’s. But at Aintree, stepped up to three-miles-plus for the first time he was a back in the winner's enclosure.
READ MORE: Full list of final 40 runners for the 2023 Grand National
