Horse racing tips: Barry Geraghty – everyone fancies this Newcastle runner but he’s way too short for me

I WAS delighted to see some swish from Shishkin at Ascot last weekend.

It was a brilliant performance and full credit to Nicky Henderson and his team at home for getting this superstar back and in such great shape.

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Geraghty reckons Nicholls has a brilliant chance in the big race[/caption]

The tongue tie and the small breathing operation clearly worked wonders and the relief and joy was etched all over Nicky’s face after the race.

Nico De Boinville clearly played a key role both at home and on the track and Nicky totally trusts his man to make the right call.

Immediately after the race Nico said it would be the Ryanair for Shishkin and Nicky was in complete agreement.

The class of the horse was clear to see and Nicky said as soon as the horse had jumped the first couple of fences he knew he had his champion back in rude health.

With a top horse it is always about how they travel. If they are doing that well and going nicely the rest — like the jumping — comes easy to them.

Things have really come together at the right time and Nicky now has a great chance of winning at least two of the big races at the Festival — Constitution Hill, of course, in the Champion Hurdle and Shishkin in the Ryanair.

While there have been calls to run him in the Champion Chase again, or even in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, I agree with Nico and Nicky the Ryanair’s trip of two miles five will be perfect.

With just over two weeks to go until the start of Cheltenham, we are entering squeaky bum territory and there will be plenty of top trainers in England and Ireland having a few sleepless nights.

Good luck to them all!

It’s decent racing today without being edge of the seat stuff — but I do think Paul Nicholls can take the Coral Trophy at Kempton.

The 13-time champion trainer has three in it — Frodon, Enrilo and SAINT CALVADOS (3.00).

I can see Bryony Frost getting a good spin out of the old boy Frodon who gets his favourite conditions at a track he loves but he could end up setting the race up for Saint Calvados.

BOOTHILL (2.25) can give Jonbon a boost by taking the Pendil.

Harry Fry’s runner was second to Tommy’s Oscar — a horse I like — at Donny last time and the step up in trip on this Flat track will suit.

Up at Newcastle, I must be one of the few people who is not in the Kitty’s Light fan club in the Eider Chase (3.25).

I get it that he is well handicapped — but he was still stuffed by 20 lengths last time and he is way too short at around 5-2 in an open race for me.

Of the value each-way plays I would rather chance Bushypark who impressed me at Catterick last time out while, further down the weights, Houston Texas and No Cruise Yet are potential improvers who are both double digit prices.

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