Shishkin has been described as a “nice good friend and warrior” by coach Nicky Henderson following his shock dying simply days earlier than he was attributable to line up within the Punchestown Gold Cup.

The twin Cheltenham Pageant winner fractured his hind leg after being forged in his field on Sunday night, Henderson reported in a publish on X.

The shock information comes three days earlier than he was set to tackle Galopin Des Champs in a juggernaut conflict on the Punchestown pageant.

Henderson’s publish on Sunday night time learn: “Tragically we’ve misplaced Shishkin this night after he bought forged in his steady and fractured his hind leg.

“Everybody concerned with Seven Barrows, significantly his house owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly, Jaydon [Lee, Shishkin’s groom], Nico [de Boinville] and George [Daly, Henderson’s assistant] are clearly devastated that such a fantastic horse, good friend and warrior has gone.

“He was attributable to go away for Punchestown tomorrow morning however sadly that is now to not be. He was an absolute celebrity and his CV is testomony to that – besides the King George just isn’t in it despite the fact that we imagine it ought to have been.

“The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Arkle have been his Cheltenham highlights, however the battle with Energumene within the Clarence Home at Ascot was most likely his biggest.

“It is a very unhappy night time. He was our star and we’ll always remember him. Thanks Shishkin for the great reminiscences.”

Shishkin rapidly established himself as a high-class performer for the six-time champion coach, overcoming a troubled passage to win the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the Cheltenham Pageant. He progressed right into a prime two-mile novice chaser the next season, profitable three begins simply earlier than thumping his rivals within the Arkle on his return to Cheltenham.

His biggest efficiency, which earned him a Racing Publish Ranking of 179, got here when popping out on prime in an epic battle with Energumene, the opposite prime two-mile chaser of the time, within the 2022 Clarence Home Chase at Ascot. However he was pulled up within the rematch within the Champion Chase on the Cheltenham Pageant two months later, and was discovered to have been affected by a uncommon bone illness.

He was overwhelmed on his comeback the next season within the Tingle Creek however flourished for a step up in journey when scooting clear within the Ascot Chase by 16 lengths. A month later he completed a strong-staying second within the Ryanair and gained the Aintree Bowl when tried at three miles for the primary time.

His character got here to the fore this season, which began with a refusal within the 1965 Chase at Ascot, whereas he was unseated when in competition within the King George. He was capable of bounce again in Newbury’s Denman Chase however a luckless marketing campaign continued as he missed the Gold Cup when one among a variety of big-name Henderson horses to be withdrawn from the Cheltenham Pageant due to the poor type of the steady.

A fourth-placed end within the Bowl at Aintree would show to be his last race. He gained 14 races from 21 begins, incomes £798,668.

Courtesy of Racing Publish