Nicky Henderson says there’s a “good chance” each Structure Hill and Shishkin might run within the rearranged Combating Fifth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
The pair missed their meant races at Newcastle final Saturday, with the assembly misplaced to the climate, and the 2 leaping stars ended up spending Friday evening at Doncaster racecourse on their approach again to Lambourn.
Henderson mooted the potential of Shishkin reverting to hurdles in preparation for a crack on the King George VI Chase on the weekend, having refused to race on his meant comeback at Ascot and the climate then intervening earlier than the Rehearsal Chase.
Nevertheless, it now looks like he could also be joined by his esteemed stablemate, who initially regarded an unlikely runner within the rearranged race.
“There’s a good chance they could both run,” stated Henderson. “Shishkin wants a run and I feel that is the simplest and kindest strategy to do it.
“It is just 17 days earlier than the King George and the choice is the Peterborough Chase however I like the concept of this.
“He was an excellent two-mile chaser and so he should not discover it too sharp. I admit he did get taken off his toes slightly in final yr’s Tingle Creek however it is a good thought for a race earlier than the King George.
“The start won’t be a problem – he says bravely – he won’t be wearing cheekpieces and we hope he has a nice time.”
He went on: “As for Constitution Hill, we’ve ummed and ahhed the whole weekend and when I went to bed I wasn’t going to enter him, but I’ve woken up this morning with a different idea. I haven’t been able to make my mind up, so I’ve put him in.
“There is a fairly good likelihood he’ll run, I would say. It should be a moist week however he goes in heavy floor. I would say he is extra more likely to run than not however it’s a very troublesome name, so everybody simply must bear with us.
“I suspect both might run. They travelled all over the country together last weekend, so they are new best friends.”
There are eight entries for the Combating Fifth, they usually embody Gordon Elliott’s Irish Level, a Grade One novice winner from final season.
Love Envoi, You Put on It Nicely, Benson, Goshen and Not So Sleepy full the listing.