“Needs to Win This”: Hopeful Trainer Nicky Henderson Opens up on 10-Year-Old Horse Ahead of ‘Super Saturday’

Published 02/09/2024, 11:00 AM EST

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Weekends are when the majority of horse racing aficionados tune in. The Newbury Racecourse is going to feature a plethora of events this Saturday. The G2 Denman Chase is one of the races that many are looking forward to. Although it is a G2 event, several horses, including 10-year-old Shishkin of Nicky Henderson, will have their fates decided in this event in preparation for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson is among a number of trainers who are targeting the Cheltenham Festival. With Shishkin at his side, the six-time champion trainer is excited to challenge Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs, the Cheltenham champion. The future of the horse and Henderson’s plans for the weekend were both discussed in his recent blog.

Nicky Henderson eyeing the G2 event

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Super Saturday was highlighted in Nicky Henderson’s blog post that was posted on Unibet’s official website. At important races at Newbury Racecourse, nine horses trained by the six-time champion trainer would compete. However, the G2 Denman Chase stands out because Shiskin is participating in it. Under Henderson’s tutelage, the 10-year-old racehorse has achieved several victories. In his blog, Henderson emphasizes, writing, “This race has pretty much always been the plan since the King George.” He elaborates by saying that he used what happened at Kempton to assist him choose the horse’s campaign for 2024.

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“He probably needs to win this to be a genuine candidate,” the trainer says of his horse, as he cites the “Gold Cup” at Cheltenham. Despite the fact that Shishkin has “never raced over” 3m2f, Henderson is still hoping for a good showing in the G2 event. “Impressed with Galopin Des Champs” was the trainer’s word while discussing his most recent stint at Leopardstown. Henderson goes on to say that the Mullins-trained horse is “hard to beat,” but that Shishkin might pose a “serious threat” to Galopin Des Champs. Henderson will undoubtedly face stiff competition from Willie Mullins, whose recent feats have captured the attention of horse racing aficionados.

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GOAT Willie Mullins latest feat

When it comes to horse racing, trainer Willie Mullins has an aura of dominance. The trainer, who has been active in the industry since 1988, recently dominated the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival. The 17-time Irish National Hunt champion, on the auspicious day of horse racing, won eight G1 races, marking this feat in the annals of the sport.

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On this particular occasion, however, the trainer acknowledged his crew’s efforts that led to this amazing feat. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of the trainers who invest in the horses that drive the industry forward. Although Mullins’ horses are usually favorites to win, any spectator may enjoy seeing a thrilling race regardless of whether Mullins’ horses prevail or not.

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Written by:

Rahul Goutam Hoom

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Rahul Hoom is a seasoned sportswriter with a diverse range of interests at EssentiallySports. He takes pride in his multidimensional personality that encompasses gaming, photography, and writing. While he cannot resist the urge to cover the latest exploits of Connor McDavid, Rahul's writing prowess extends beyond the NHL.
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Edited by:

Himanshu Sridhar