Cliff only had to wait until January 2020 for points though when the soon-to-be stable star dominated a Newbury novice hurdle. It was a similar story at Huntingdon the following month and then Nico De Boinville partnered the horse to a head victory over Abracadabras in the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
2019/20 - 4 runs, 3 wins, 123.4 points
It was straight over fences the following season, with Cliff now being joined by Martin, Neil, Peej and Steve in looking for points.
Shishkin was 'unchallenged' at 1/6 in a Beginners Chase at Kempton in November and followed up 'easily' in the Wayward Lad at the same track the following month. There was another easy win in the Lightning Chase at Doncaster at the end of January before another odds-on demonstration in the Arkle, winning by 12 lengths. This season Shishkin added Aintree to the victory tour, running out a comfortable winner of the Maghull at 1/8F.
2020/21 - 5 runs, 5 wins, 236.2 Points (for Cliff, half for the rest)
The same Punters kept the faith the following season as Shishkin was lined up for a tilt at the Champion Chase. That started perfectly with a 10 length victory over Greaneteen in the Desert Orchid at Kempton then a length victory over Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot in an epic race that many consider his best and one of the best two mile contests in recent years.
Did it leave a mark? Was the horse quite the same after this? Certainly not at Cheltenham in the Champion Chase where De Boinville was pushing along after the first and, after a few slack jumps, pulled up after the eighth. Soft going was blamed and there was no trip to Aintree this year.
2021/22 - 3 runs, 2 wins, 121.58 points (for Cliff, half for the rest)
That disappointing performance meant Martin and Peej abandoning the horse for the 2022/23 season. It wasn't the best start to the campaign with Shishkin being kicked before the Tingle Creek (deemed fit to race by the vet) and coming in third, 15 lengths behind Edwardstone.
After wind surgery in January Shishkin was back in the winner's enclosure the following month. The horse seemed back to its very best with a 16 length win in the Ascot Chase. At Cheltenham it was decided to try a longer trip in the 2m 5f Ryanair but the evens favourite hung left and didn't jump that well and finished second behind Envoi Allen. The trip couldn't have been to blame as Shishkin went to Aintree and landed the 3m 1f Aintree Bowl leading just after the last to deny Ahoy Senor by a length and a half.
2022/23 - 4 runs, 2 wins, 161.50 points (for Cliff, half for Neil and Steve)
The same three Punters kept the faith for what was to prove to be Shishkin's last season. It started in odd style when the horse refused to race before the 1965 Chase at Ascot. That upped the pressure on the early season target, the King George. This time De Boinville got the horse to jump off and seemed certain to be involved in the finish until a blunder two out saw the jockey unseated.
There was to be one more win, in Newbury's Denman Chase in February, keeping on well to see off Hitman and Protektorat. The virus in the Henderson stable meant missing a possible tilt at the Gold Cup and there was to be no compensation at Aintree when an eight and three quarters lengths fourth in the Mildmay Chase to Gerri Colombe
2023/24 - 4 runs, 1 win, 63.46 points (for Cliff, half for Neil and Steve)
Overall record
20 runs - 13 wins, 706.14 points
