Hanlon Favouring Charlie Hall Test For Hewick

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Shark Hanlon is "95 per cent sure" Hewick will head to Wetherby on Saturday for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.


The bet365 Gold Cup, American Grand National, and King George VI Chase hero made a victorious return to action over hurdles at Thurles earlier this month, when ridden by the fitness instructor's son Paddy Hanlon, and is set to go back to the larger challenges this weekend.


Hewick is likewise entered 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 indicates Hanlon is presently favouring a trip 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 entering Down Royal and they have actually been watering for the last two weeks. We might wind up with accepting soft ground and if that happened we 'd absolutely go the other way.


"Recently in Thurles he was extremely excellent and Paddy was good on him. We have not decided who will ride him this weekend yet, perhaps just returning over fences we might put Gavin (Sheehan) back on him, we'll see.


Hewick after victory at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)


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


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


Hanlon added: "Down the road I 'd be thinking of the Stayers' Hurdle - I think he might be an ideal 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 pair of Croke Park and Stellar Story the 2 other Irish-trained contenders.


The home team 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 sixth triumph 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.