Shishkin looks "absolutely magnificent" says Nicky Henderson, who has given the chasing star the green light to resume training.
The dual Cheltenham Festival winner was sidelined with a rare bone problem following his hat-trick bid at the fixture in March. Pulled up behind Energumene in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the odds on favourite was checked over in the aftermath of the shock defeat.
He was given a long break, which the Seven Barrows handler reports has done the trick.
"There isn’t much medication you can give for this unique condition, it’s just a case of allowing everything to heal in its own time and thankfully everything is now completely clean and there is no evidence of anything existing anymore," he said.
The Tingle Creek, run at Sandown on December 3, is a possible aim for the winner of all his completed starts over fences. Shishkin is 4-1 with William Hill to make amends in the 2023 Champion Chase, in a market headed by Willie Mullins' reigning champion (2-1).
Henderson said the follow-up scans gave him the news he wanted to hear about the 2020 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and 2021 Arkle Chase hero.
"He’s had a long summer of recuperation at Charlie and Tracy Vigors’ Hillwood Stud, where he always goes for his holidays," the trainer added.
"And while he was never turned out with the others in a massive field he was able to enjoy his own space in a more restricted area and under controlled ‘exercise’ throughout the whole time."
