Shishkin refuses to start in 1965 Chase at Ascot
Shishkin, who refused to start at Ascot. Picture: David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA Wire.
Shishkin stunned onlookers at Ascot when refusing to start in the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase, which went the way of Pic Paul Nicholls' D'Orhy.
Nicky Henderson's top-class chaser was returning to action in the Grade Two contest, which only attracted four runners.
Nico de Boinville was partnering the gelding, who was the short-priced favourite, but at the tapes he did not budge and the race went ahead without him.
In Shishkin's shock absence, the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D'Orhy and Minella Drama shared the lead in the early stages as Straw Fan Jack followed, with the latter becoming the danger when Minella Drama faded.
Pic D'Orhy and Straw Fan Jack briefly locked horns, but Harry Coben's mount pulled away when asked for a 16-length success at 5-2.
