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 victorious go back to action over obstacles at Thurles earlier this month, when ridden by the trainer's boy Paddy Hanlon, and is set to go back to the bigger 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 completed a close 2nd last season, but the possibility of drier ground in West Yorkshire suggests Hanlon is presently favouring a trip across the Irish Sea.


"It's not set in stone yet, but I'm 95 per cent sure we'll go to the Charlie Hall," he said.


"There's rain entering Down Royal and they have actually been watering for the last 2 weeks. We could wind up with accepting soft ground and if that happened we 'd certainly go the other method.


"A few days ago in Thurles he was great and Paddy was excellent on him. We have not chosen who will ride him this weekend yet, maybe simply going back over fences we might put Gavin (Sheehan) back on him, we'll see.


Hewick after victory at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)


"It's a likelihood for him to win another great pot on Saturday. There's a few good horses in the Down Royal race and a few good horses in Wetherby, but isn't he entitled to take his chance no matter where we go?"


Hewick finished a praiseworthy eighth in the Grand National last season and while another fracture at the world's most popular steeplechase is not being ruled out, his trainer is eyeing up another significant reward in the spring.


Hanlon included: "Down the road I 'd be thinking about the Stayers' Hurdle - I think he might be a right horse for a Stayers' Hurdle this year."


Hewick was one of 10 horses entered for the Charlie Hall Chase on Monday, with Gordon Elliott's set of Croke Park and Stellar Story the 2 other Irish-trained competitors.


The home group consists of Patrick Neville's safeguarding champion The Real Whacker, Dan Skelton's triple Grade One winner Protektorat and Pic D'orhy, who could bid to offer Paul Nicholls with his 6th success in the race following the previous successes of See More Business (1999 and 2000), Silviniaco Conti (2011 ), Cyrname (2020) and Bravemansgame (2022 ).


Djelo ( Williams), Ga Law (Jamie Snowden), Hang In There (Emma Lavelle) and Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball) are the other hopefuls.