IT was a day that Ascot racegoers will never forget with an epic duel between two champions from England and Ireland producing one of the most exciting finishes to a National Hunt race seen at the track in modern times.
Even winning trainer Nicky Henderson sportingly admitted: "It was sad that one horse had to lose."
It was the Upper Lambourn based Shishkin who just prevailed in thrilling style, holding off Willie Mullins' Energumene in the SBK Clarence House Chase.
Both had gone into the race with unbeaten records in two-mile chases with Shiskin extending his sequence to seven, while the Irish raider was losing for the first time in six starts.
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The eight-year-old Energumene, ridden by Paul Townend, was at the head of the four-runner field for much of the time and had Shishkin, with Nico De Boinville aboard, under pressure as they turned for home.
Odds-on favourite Shishkin was still a length down at the final fence, but found the momentum in the dying strides to get up to win by a length.
De Boinville, who was given a tremendous reception from the large crowd as he came into the winner's enclosure, told ITV Racing: "I don't get excited very often but going down that hill flat out on these two, myself and Paul, the thrill and exhilaration of doing that is hard to buy.
"We were going so fast he was coming alive under me too much and I had to settle him down again. He was losing ground going out to his left but great champions find a way of winning and he's just that."
Henderson added: "Energumene set a good gallop and there were moments it looked as if we weren't going as well but it proves he stays very well."
Mullins commented: "I was shaking on the stands after the horses passed the winning post. It was a terrific race, two good jockeys, two good horses and played down to the wire.
"Nicky came out with the best quote all week, he said everyone in the racing world was waiting for this race except the two trainers. We were probably the two who didn't want to see our champions get beat and unfortunately I'm the man."
And it looks as if there will be a rematch in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March with Henderson adding: "Willie and I have jobs to do to get them back from a hard race but there's plenty of time and we will try to serve it up again."
Another Ascot winner booked for Cheltenham is Doctor Parnassus who swept into the Triumph Hurdle reckoning with an impressive 10-length win in the SBK Betting Podcast Juvenile Hurdle.
The four-year-old making his debut over the smaller fences was the first of three winners on the card for trainer Dan Skelton and jockey Harry Skelton.
Unexpected Party won the SBK Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle with Mollys Ollys Wishes taking the SBK Mares’ Hurdle.
Paul Nicholls saddled his 100th winner of the season when Cat Tiger landed the three-mile SBK Handicap Chase in the hands of amateur David Maxwell.
During the afternoon, Ascot's management presented a cheque for more than £10,000 - raised by public donations when purchasing tickets - to Sebastian's Action Trust, the Crowthorne-based charity that offers respite holidays as well as practical, emotional and social support to families with seriously ill children.
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