Nicky Henderson has confirmed Shishkin will join esteemed stablemate Constitution Hill on the trip to Newcastle to contest Saturday's BetMGM Rehearsal Chase.
With the multiple Grade One winner having refused to start in last weekend’s 1965 Chase at Ascot, the Seven Barrows handler admitted to being in a quandary as to what to do with his star chaser as he looks to get his season back on track ahead of a planned tilt at the King George VI Chase at Christmas.
With alternative options limited, Henderson revealed on Sunday that Shishkin could make a swift reappearance in the north east, with Constitution Hill already making the long journey from Lambourn to Gosforth Park as he looks to secure back-to-back victories in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
And while a lofty rating of 173 means Shishkin will have to carry 12 stone and concede upwards of 21lb to each of his rivals in Saturday’s finale, he has been given the go ahead to take his chance.
In a statement posted on X, Henderson said: "Just to keep everybody informed, Shishkin will run in the Rehearsal Chase on Saturday.
"Everything is fine with him, and he’ll travel up to Newcastle on Friday with Constitution Hill."
Meanwhile a "quite dire" weather forecast is owner Michael Buckley's biggest concern ahead of Constitution Hill's return.
After being a brilliant winner of the race last year, he went on to land the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle to extend his faultless record to seven.
The prospect of plummeting temperatures is a major worry for all those involved in this year's race however.
"I'm told the forecast is actually quite dire - Nicky told me this morning he'd had a phone call and they were saying temperatures might get down to minus 8C or 10, with only minus 1C in the day. If that happens I think any racing on Saturday might be in a bit of trouble," Buckley told Sky Sports Racing.
"Newcastle last year was such a thrilling day and the crowd were so nice there. I'd never been to Newcastle before and I was looking forward to it, so I hope it all happens (again)."
Should Newcastle's fixture fall to the cold snap, Constitution Hill looks set to head straight to the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen's Day due to a lack of alternatives in the meantime.
Buckley added: "I think it's going to be pretty tough for Nicky, because both horses (Constitution Hill and Shishkin) are going there and if everything goes well with them the idea was that they would both go to Kempton.
"There's two things - there's nothing suitable between now and then and there isn't any time. It's only three weeks from Saturday until Boxing (St Stephen's) Day."
Not only does Constitution Hill possess brilliant ability, but much is also made about his apparently bombproof temperament.
"He's very chilled until the business moments arrive. He's pretty exuberant when he sees a hurdle, certainly if there's another horse around, but he is just what he is - he keeps his energy at a low level until he has to use it," Buckley continued.
"It's a bit terrifying at times, the way he takes off, but I think he just likes to show off. He likes to take off outside the wings and I just hope he doesn't lose his ability to measure the hurdles properly!
"People seem to love him, so I hope he does his stuff and runs somewhere like he did last season."
