Hanlon Favouring Charlie Hall Test For Hewick
Shark Hanlon is "95 percent sure" Hewick will head to Wetherby on Saturday for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.
The bet365 Gold Cup, American Grand National, Galway Plate and King George VI Chase hero made a triumphant return to action over hurdles at Thurles previously this month, when ridden by the trainer's child Paddy Hanlon, and is set to return to the larger obstacles this weekend.
Hewick is likewise gone into in the Grade One BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, a race in which he finished a close 2nd last season, however the prospect of drier ground in West Yorkshire suggests Hanlon is currently favouring a journey across the Irish Sea.
"It's not set in stone yet, however I'm 95 percent sure we'll go to the Charlie Hall," he stated.
"There's rain coming into Down Royal and they have actually been watering for the last 2 weeks. We might end up with accepting soft ground and if that occurred we 'd absolutely go the other way.
"Recently in Thurles he was really great and Paddy was good on him. We have not decided who will ride him this weekend yet, possibly simply returning over fences we might put Gavin (Sheehan) back on him, we'll see.
Hewick after success at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)
"It's an excellent possibility for him to win another nice pot on Saturday. There's a couple of good horses in the Down Royal race and a couple of good horses in Wetherby, however isn't he entitled to take his possibility no matter where we go?"
Hewick ended up a reputable eighth in the Grand National last season and while another crack at the world's most well-known steeplechase is not being eliminated, his fitness instructor is eyeing up another major reward in the spring.
Hanlon included: "Down the roadway I 'd be thinking about the Stayers' Hurdle - I think he could be an ideal horse for a Stayers' Hurdle this year."
Hewick was one of 10 horses went into for the Charlie Hall Chase on Monday, with Gordon Elliott's pair of Croke Park and Stellar Story the 2 other Irish-trained competitors.
The home team includes Patrick Neville's protecting champ The Real Whacker, Dan Skelton's triple Grade One and Pic D'orhy, who might bid to provide Paul Nicholls with his sixth victory in the race following the previous successes of See More Business (1999 and 2000), Silviniaco Conti (2011 ), Cyrname (2020) and Bravemansgame (2022 ).
Djelo (Venetia Williams), Ga Law (Jamie Snowden), Hang In There (Emma Lavelle) and Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball) are the other hopefuls.