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 return to action over difficulties at Thurles earlier this month, when ridden by the fitness instructor's child Paddy Hanlon, and is set to return to the larger obstacles this weekend.
Hewick is likewise entered in the Grade One BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, a race in which he finished a close second last season, however the prospect of drier ground in West Yorkshire implies Hanlon is currently favouring a journey across the Irish Sea.
"It's not set in stone yet, however I'm 95 per cent sure we'll go to the Charlie Hall," he stated.
"There's rain entering into Down Royal and they've been watering for the last two weeks. We might end up with yielding to soft ground and if that happened we 'd absolutely go the other method.
"The other day in Thurles he was excellent and Paddy was great on him. We haven't chosen who will ride him this weekend yet, perhaps simply returning over fences we may put Gavin (Sheehan) back on him, we'll see.
Hewick after success at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)
"It's a likelihood for him to win another great pot on Saturday. There's a couple of excellent horses in the Down Royal race and a few good horses in Wetherby, however isn't he entitled to take his chance no matter where we go?"
Hewick ended up a praiseworthy eighth in the Grand National last season and while another fracture at the world's most well-known steeplechase is not being ruled out, his fitness instructor is eyeing up another significant prize in the spring.
Hanlon added: "Down the roadway I 'd be considering the Stayers' Hurdle - I believe he could be an ideal horse for a Stayers' Hurdle this year."
Hewick was one of 10 horses got in for the Charlie Hall Chase on Monday, with Gordon Elliott's pair of Croke Park and Stellar Story the two other Irish-trained contenders.
The home group consists of Patrick Neville's defending champion The Real Whacker, Dan Skelton's triple Grade One winner Protektorat and Pic D'orhy, who might bid to provide Paul Nicholls with his 6th triumph 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.