Shishkin ruled out of Tingle Creek at Sandown as Nicky Henderson delays seasonal debut

Shishkin will not run in next week’s Tingle Creek at Sandown with Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson making the announcement on Wednesday.

The Arkle winner was due to make his first appearance of the season and his first start since winning the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April.

The unbeaten chaser was favourite for the Grade 1 showdown on December 4, but the Seven Barrows trainer admitted that his stable star ‘isn’t sparky’.

He said: "I've just spoken to [owner] Joe Donnelly and we've sadly and reluctantly decided that Shishkin is not going to run in the Tingle Creek.

"There's nothing wrong with him, but I just haven't got there. He worked this morning and he just isn't sparky at the moment. I think I just got behind the ball a little bit.

"We did his wind in the autumn which wasn't a problem, but it just put us behind the ball and Nico de Boinville and I both feel he's not quite on his A game.

"It really is a thin line. We've scoped him and everything and there's nothing wrong, but you can't afford to go into this at anything bar 100 per cent."

As a result of his absence, the seven-year-old is expected to head to Kempton over Christmas for the Desert Orchid Chase.