Tag Archive for: Shark Hanlon

Shark Hanlon announces new licence holder for his yard

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has revealed Tara Lee Cogan will take over the licence at his County Carlow yard after his ban begins on Sunday, meaning his stable star Hewick could yet defend his crown in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Hanlon will serve a six-month suspension, with the possibility it could later be reduced to three, after a Referrals Committee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board ruled he had acted in a manner that “caused significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of racing” in the removal of a dead horse from his yard earlier this year.

With the trainer’s ban commencing on December 1, plans remain uncertain for Hewick, who made a fine start to his campaign when second to Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal and travelled to Haydock for last weekend’s Betfair Chase, only to be withdrawn on the day due to the rain-softened ground.

Hanlon, who made the difficult decision to sell several of his horses at a dispersal sale at Goffs in October, is now preparing to hand over the reins to Cogan, who has not saddled a winner under National Hunt rules in over 10 years.

“Tara Cogan is going to take over training. She’s a friend not too far from me and she’s moving into my yard,” Hanlon – who had his original 10-month ban reduced on appeal – said on Friday afternoon.

“She takes over on Monday. We haven’t a lot of horses to run, we only have seven, eight or 10 to run, so she’s taking over and I’m delighted because she’s been a friend for years and she knows the run of the yard because she used to come down and work her own horses with mine.

“She only has three or four horses, so they’re coming down to my yard over the weekend, and she’s keeping on my staff, which is very important. Rachel (O’Neill, Hanlon’s partner) will be there to give her a hand with whatever she wants to know as well.

“I’ll take a sideline as my sister is not well in America and I’m bringing my mother to America to see her. We’ll take a sideline for the time being and the sooner this is over the better.”

While Hanlon will not be able to play any part in the training of Hewick during the next few months, he does hold an entry in the King George.

“The plan the whole time was to run at Christmas somewhere. He’s entered in the King George and he’ll probably be entered for Leopardstown,” Hanlon added.

“Whatever Tara and Rachel want to do it’ll be no problem. Tara is friendly with the man that owns Hewick as well, he’d know her.

“I’m taking a holiday for a couple of months and will see if I can replace some of the horses I lost.”



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Hewick plans in limbo as softening ground rules out Betfair bid

All plans are on hold for Hewick after trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon made the difficult decision to withdraw his stable star from the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Last season’s King George VI Chase hero made the trip the Merseyside with high hopes off the back of finishing a close second to Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal last month.

In the immediate aftermath of that narrow defeat, Hanlon suggested Hewick would either defend his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day or run in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown two days later.

However, with plans beyond the start of December complicated by the trainer’s impending suspension, he instead made an early trip across the Irish Sea, only for rain during the morning and early afternoon ultimately scuppering his participation.

Hanlon said: “If the rain hadn’t have come in the last hour I think we’d have been all right. I walked the track this morning and I was happy enough with it, but we just didn’t need rain and it came.

“There’ll be other days, but it’s disappointing because he was in real good form and had a good run the last day.

“It’s the right decision for the horse not to run.”

From December 1, Hanlon will serve a six-month suspension, with the possibility it could later be reduced to three, after a Referrals Committee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board ruled he had acted in a manner that “caused significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of racing” in the removal of a dead horse from his yard earlier this year.

That ban will, of course, mean Hewick is unable to run in the King George in Hanlon’s name and the trainer is not ruling out the possibility of sending his stable star straight for another crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Hewick won the King George last year
Hewick won the King George last year (Steven Paston/PA)

He added: “Now the rain has come we could have rain for two or three months, so I’d say nearly Cheltenham could be his next run, but we have no decision made.

“I have nothing planned yet. In the next three days we’ll see what we’re going to do.

“We’ll train him for a King George, but we’re just going to have to wait and see. If we ran him today I had no intention of doing anything else (before Cheltenham), but we’re going to have to see now.”



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Sheehan and Hewick set for Haydock reunion

Gavin Sheehan will be reunited with Hewick in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Jordan Gainford has partnered Shark Hanlon’s charge in his last five starts but Sheehan will get the leg up on Merseyside, having steered the horse to King George VI Chase glory last year.

Hewick was caught close home by Envoi Allen having made most of the running in the Champion Chase at Down Royal earlier this month, with Hanlon suggesting a Kempton defence at Christmas could be on the cards.

The trainer’s impending suspension complicated matters though, and the plan is now to run at Haydock before heading straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, when the trainer will be back on the roster.

However, with some forecasts suggesting over 20 millimetres of rain at Haydock, Hanlon will be keeping a close eye on the weather.

He said: “We’ve got Gavin and we’re hoping the rain stays away, but he’s going anyhow.

Gavin Sheehan last rode Hewick in the King George
Gavin Sheehan last rode Hewick in the King George (John Walton/PA)

“He does go with cut in the ground, it’s just that the fences look big to him on soft ground.

“I was talking to the man on the track (clerk of the course Daniel Cooper) and he can see it being good on Saturday – if the rain stays away. I’m hoping the forecast is wrong.

“A small drop of rain would be lovely. At Limerick the other day, it looked soft but it wasn’t, they were just taking the top off it – under it, it is still hard, so I don’t think one day of rain will make it soft.

“He nearly won in France when it was very soft. He handles it, he’s just better on good ground.

“He didn’t deserve to lose at Down Royal, he put it all in. I think he’s actually better this year than he was last year.”



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Hewick lined up for Haydock trip ‘if the ground stays good’

The Betfair Chase has emerged as a likely next port of call for Hewick following his narrow defeat at Down Royal on Saturday.

Having finished third on his reappearance at Punchestown last month, last season’s King George hero raised his game in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, going down by just half a length after a titanic tussle on the run-in with Envoi Allen, with the pair clear of Gerri Colombe in third.

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon was delighted with his stable star’s performance and feels the result may have been even better had course officials not watered the ground during the week.

“He’s come out of it 100 per cent, there’s not a bother on him and it was a great run,” he said.

“He gave his heart, didn’t he? If I’d gone to Wetherby for the Charlie Hall instead, I probably would have won, but we decided to take on the boys in Down Royal and we didn’t lose anything in defeat.

“They did a lot of watering and it just turned the ground too soft for me. The ground was lovely, but it was yielding ground and we just need good ground.”

In the immediate aftermath of his Down Royal effort, Hanlon suggested Hewick would either defend his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day or run in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown two days later, but plans beyond the start of December are complicated by the trainer’s impending suspension.

Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon with Hewick
Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon with Hewick (Niall Carson/PA)

With that in mind, the County Carlow handler is keen to head to Haydock for the Merseyside track’s Grade One feature on November 23, provided conditions are suitable.

He added: “I’m hoping to go to Haydock with him now for the Betfair, that would be the aim.

“If the ground stays good for Haydock, I wouldn’t mind going (straight) to Cheltenham with him. His big aim this year is the Gold Cup and onto the Grand National after that.

“If I can get him to Haydock, I’d be very happy and could leave him fresh then for the Gold Cup.”



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Shark Hanlon has suspension of licence reduced to six months

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has been partially successful in an appeal against the severity of his recent suspension, seeing it reduced from 10 months to six, with the possibility it could be further reduced to three months.

Hanlon, who trains last year’s King George VI Chase hero Hewick, was found by the Referrals Committee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board to have acted in a manner that “caused significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of racing” in the removal of a dead horse from his yard earlier this year.

The horse was carried on an open trailer which was towed by Hanlon’s branded horsebox, with the body left on display to the public after a tarpaulin became displaced during the journey.

A member of the public videoed the incident and it was widely circulated on social media, which attracted further media attention and led to the IHRB bringing charges against Hanlon, saying the conduct “attracted significant public opprobrium and adverse comment” both for the trainer personally and racing in general.

Hanlon appealed the severity of the sanction – due to begin on December 1 – and had already been unsuccessful in attempting to delay the beginning of the ban until April to give him time to prepare a legal case and make specific business arrangements.

Hanlon felt the punishment could have been a monetary fine, but the appeals panel rejected this, saying Hanlon’s conduct “passed the threshold of attracting only a financial penalty”.

The second criticism by the trainer was the length of the suspension, given in his view it had failed to take into account the differences between this and similar other cases, namely those of trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Rob James, banned for 12 months each with six and eight months suspended respectively.

In giving its verdict on the appeal, the panel said: “Having considered all of the evidence and arguments we have come to the conclusion that the Referrals Committee ought to have fixed a shorter headline sanction of six months in this case in order to take account of a major difference between Mr Hanlon’s conduct and that of Messrs. Elliott and James.

“In their cases, the lack of respect demonstrated to the carcass of the deceased animal in each case was deliberate and wilful. Mr Hanlon’s was not. He was negligent albeit to a high degree. We do not think that the reduction of the headline penalty from one of 12 months withdrawal of licence to 10 months adequately addresses that major difference.

“It also has to be borne in mind that the negligence of Mr Hanlon occurred in a single activity of relatively short duration. We are not to be taken as holding that negligence as distinct from a deliberate act might not attract a 10- or even 12-month withdrawal of licence in appropriate circumstances. Had there been continuing acts of negligence here, then the 10-month figure might well be justified.

“However, that was not the case and so we are of opinion that the headline figure of six months withdrawal is the correct one.”

Hanlon’s licence to train will be withdrawn for a period of six months from December 1 and the Referrals Committee may consider an application to conditionally suspend the last three months of the six-month withdrawal sanction.



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Hewick outing bringing some relief to Shark Hanlon

Shark Hanlon sees Hewick’s run in the BetVictor Chase at Punchestown on Wednesday as a form of light relief.

The trainer could lose his licence for 10 months should the result of an appeal against the severity of that punishment, which was heard at the headquarters of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday, not go his way.

Veteran trainer Edward O’Grady spoke in Hanlon’s defence at the hearing, with a decision from the independent appeal panel expected within 14 days. Hanlon was given the suspension after a dead horse was transported on an open trailer towed by one of his branded lorries, with the body left visible to the public after a tarpaulin became displaced during the journey.

A member of the public videoed the incident and it was widely circulated on social media, which attracted further media attention and led to the IHRB bringing charges against Hanlon, saying the conduct “attracted significant public opprobrium and adverse comment” both for the trainer personally and racing in general.

Shark Hanlon after Hewick won the King George VI Chase
Shark Hanlon after Hewick won the King George VI Chase (John Walton/PA)

Following a hearing on August 30, the disciplinary panel of the IHRB said it was satisfied Hanlon had breached rule 272(i) in that he was “grossly negligent in the supervision of the transport of the horse carcass on the day in question” and there was “high culpability” on his part.

Famously bought for just €850, Hewick propelled Hanlon into the big time by winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park last year.

The nine-year-old further confirmed he belonged at the highest level when a close third to Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown and was then second in the French Champion Hurdle.

“He’s giving plenty of weight away, but he’s in good form. He’ll definitely improve for the run – I’m looking forward to getting him back going,” said Hanlon.

“His Punchestown run, if the ground had been better, I think he’d have had a chance of beating the other two. He’s a horse that wants good ground.

“At Punchestown we took them on on their ground, but I’d love to take them on on our ground. He showed he wouldn’t have been out of place in the Gold Cup as they are the two best in Ireland, so hopefully he comes back in the same form this year.

“In France the ground was so bad I thought he ran a cracker. I think his Punchestown run was his best and his French run his second best.”

Reflecting on his situation, Hanlon said: “It’s a bit of a relief to talk about the horses – it will be a disaster if I can’t in the future.

“I don’t think I did a lot wrong and the whole of Ireland and England don’t think I did a lot wrong. I’ve had so much support and it really means a lot.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what we’re doing until we get a decision on the appeal. I’ve no idea what will happen with Hewick, I haven’t got a Plan B yet.”

Among the opposition to Hewick in the Grade Three contest is the Gordon Elliott-trained Conflated, a smart performer at his best, finishing third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last season and second to Jonbon at Aintree.

Conflated (right) in action at Aintree
Conflated (right) in action at Aintree (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

“Conflated is in good form, but he will come on for the run,” said Elliott, who also runs Minella Crooner.

“He’s obviously a bit better going the other way, but he was only beaten nine and a half lengths here (in the Punchestown Gold Cup) after going quite a bit left. He will come on from the run.

“Minella Crooner likes the track but he’s wrong in the ratings and Hurricane Georgie got placed in a smaller field last year so it would be great if she could do it again.

“To be honest if we got a bit of rain it would do no harm.”

Gavin Cromwell’s Visionarian is going for a second good win of the early campaign, having taken the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park.

His trainer said: “He’s wrong at the weights with plenty of them and if the rain comes it probably wouldn’t suit him.

“He’s not the simplest to place and it’s coming quite quick for him after Gowran. We’re a bit limited with options where we can go.

“I don’t think the longer trip will be an issue.”



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Hanlon suspension set to begin at start of December

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s ban will begin on December 1, it has been decided by the Referrals Committee.

Hanlon has appealed against the severity of the suspension and applied to have the start of the ban deferred until April 1 to give his legal team time to prepare a case and to enable him to make specific arrangements regarding his business, but this was turned down by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

They had initially given him until December 1, which is 10 weeks from the announcement of the punishment, and that will remain the case.

Hanlon, who handles last year’s Kempton hero Hewick, was found to have acted in a manner that “caused significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of racing” in the removal of a dead horse from his yard earlier this year.

The horse was carried on an open trailer which was towed by Hanlon’s branded horsebox, with the body left on display to the public after a tarpaulin became displaced during the journey.

A member of the public videoed the incident and it was widely circulated on social media, which attracted further media attention and led to the IHRB bringing charges against Hanlon, saying the conduct “attracted significant public opprobrium and adverse comment” both for the trainer personally and racing in general.

The written reasons outlining why Hanlon’s ban would still start in December said: “The Committee decided that it saw nothing in the material submitted to justify deviation from the initial suggestion that the effective date of the sanctions should be December 1, 2024.

“The Committee acknowledged in the initial decision that these sanctions would be burdensome for Mr Hanlon in various ways.

“However, there was nothing in his circumstances to differentiate them from those of other trainers put in the same position by similar decisions in other cases. These cases informed the initial proposal by the Committee of a deferral to December 1, 2024.

“In summary, to defer a sanction of five or 10-months duration (depending on the ultimate approach taken by Mr Hanlon) for well over six months would tend to have the effects suggested by the IHRB and would disproportionately dilute the effect of the withdrawal sanction.

“Accordingly, the Committee confirmed that the sanctions imposed in the initial decision will take effect on December 1, 2024.”

Five months of the suspension may be deferred if Hanlon abides by the conditions imposed by the Referrals Committee during the first half of the ban.



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American National on the radar again for Hewick

Shark Hanlon described Hewick as a “horse of a lifetime” as the Irish handler contemplates another assault at American Grand National success later this year.

The nine-year-old continued his fine run of form when he came a narrow second in the French Champion Hurdle in Auteuil on Saturday.

This came on the back of victory in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and, although he missed the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National due to unsuitable ground, he turned in an impressive third behind Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs on his return to Ireland in the Punchestown Gold Cup earlier this month.

Hewick
Hewick won the American Grand National in 2022 (Nigel French/PA)

Hanlon is planning a similar route for 2025 to what had been in place for this year, but he looks set to add a trip to Far Hills in New Jersey before the end of 2024 in a bid to reclaim the American Grand National which he won by a huge 11 and a half lengths in October 2022.

“He goes back up to TJ (owner TJ McDonald) in Naas and will get eight weeks off, and then we are thinking about going back to America for that race we won two years ago,” he said.

“From there, we will probably look at the same routine as last year – the King George, up to Cheltenham, maybe for a National this year – I’ll have to discuss with the owners.

“He’s a horse of a lifetime. His run at Punchestown was against two of the best Irish and English horses, probably, and then we go to France and get beat. I think he’s entitled to win more of those pots some day, whenever it is.

“He needs that three and a half miles, it is very hard to get those races. That’s the story with him.”

The weekend’s display left Hanlon waxing lyrical over his stable star, who performed admirably despite unfavourable very soft ground at the Paris track.

Hewick was in third when he flew over the final obstacle behind Mahler Mission and Losange Bleu in the extended three-mile-one-furlong contest.

He managed to get past his Irish rival in the closing stages and homed in on leading French raider Losange Bleu, but the post came too quickly for Hewick as he finished one and a half lengths behind the winner.

Hanlon is adamant that Hewick would have won if there was half a furlong further in the Grade One race.

“He’s in great form, he never missed a nut and we are thrilled,” he added. “We are disappointed to get beat, but absolutely thrilled.

“I think the soft ground down the back beat him. Like when he met the good ground up the straight he travelled very well the whole way home, if there had to be another 100 yards I think he would have nearly got up.

“He just needs to be able to handle the soft ground like the good ground, he goes on it but he is just much better on good ground.

“Down the back the other day was soft, he (jockey Jordan Gainford) said he kept changing his legs the whole time, but then when he met the good ground up the main straight, he said he galloped straight up the straight for him.”



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Hewick heading for French Champion Hurdle assignment

Shark Hanlon has confirmed that Hewick will have a second crack at French Champion Hurdle glory later this month, having finished fourth behind Theleme in that contest last term.

The nine-year-old claimed a famous victory in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day before sidestepping the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National due to unsuitable ground, but had a spin over hurdles on Merseyside.

Hewick put in a fine effort when third behind Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs on his return to Ireland in the Punchestown Gold Cup, but the 2022 American Grand National hero is now set to get back on his travels.

Reflecting on that last run, Hanlon told Racing TV: “It’s probably his best run ever and he finished third, but you’d have to be proud of him. He’s finished third in one of the top-class races in either Ireland or England.

“I just announced today that I’m going to go to France with him for the French Champion Hurdle, which he was fourth in last year.

Shark Hanlon Stable Visit – Monday 12th January
Trainer Shark Hanlon with Hewick (PA).

“That’s on Saturday week and then he’ll probably get a holiday after that, before maybe going back to America in October and November, down the same route.

“At Punchestown, the ground was lovely, but we’d rather it had been faster, because on faster ground, I think he’s a lot better horse.

“We probably won’t get that in France but we were fourth in it last year and there’s a lot of money and I think the first three horses that beat us last year are all gone this year.

“None of them are around and he was well clear of the fifth horse last year. I was talking to the owner yesterday and he’s in great form, so we’ll give him one more.

“He’s lightly raced this year, he’s only had three runs, so we’ll have to see.

“After the King George, they were nearly knocking him more than praising him. We wanted to go to either Cheltenham or Liverpool, but with the ground too soft in both places, we gave him a run in Liverpool over hurdles just to get him ready for Punchestown really.”



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Enfranchise secures Tipple triumph

Enfranchise stayed on strongly to land the Listed-class Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes at Gowran Park on her seasonal reappearance.

Shark Hanlon’s versatile mare was a winner both on the Flat and over hurdles last year and signed off with a 50-1 second in Galway’s Oyster Stakes at this level.

Gavin Ryan settled the six-year-old just off the pace in this contest over a mile and six furlongs, biding his time in behind the front-running Vischio.

Countess Of Tyrone and Joupe came through to take things up early on in the home straight, but it was ultimately Enfranchise who finished off best of all to prevail by two lengths at 16-1.

Hanlon said: “She is a filly that we always thought a lot of. She won the Oaks last year in Down Royal and she loves that ground, she galloped them into the ground.

“I thought she’d run well but didn’t know if she was fit enough. She was doing everything right at home.

“I think she’s better over two miles and I’d definitely go up in trip, rather than down in trip.

“There is a hurdle race in Galway that we have picked out for her and there are plenty of Group races on the Flat. She loves soft ground and I think the Group One (Prix du) Cadran in France would suit her.”

Empress Of Beauty just came out on top following a great battle with Goldana in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes over an extended nine furlongs.

Henry de Bromhead’s four-year-old looked set to record a convincing victory when sweeping past pacesetter Goldana two furlongs from home, but the 10-11 favourite showed tremendous spirit to rally late on.

However, 5-1 chance Empress Of Beauty just held off that renewed challenge to score by a short-head.

De Bromhead said: “We were hoping for a good run. She’s a big girl and I’d say she just had enough at the end of last season.

“She had been working well this year and it was lovely to see her do it on ground that she wouldn’t be too keen on.

“She is a lot stronger this year. She’s a big, scopey filly and we just felt that she fell away a bit last year. She is really filling her frame out now and this year could be really exciting now.”



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Hanlon sets sights on Aintree Bowl for Hewick

Top-weight Hewick has been officially scratched from the Randox Grand National, with trainer Shark Hanlon instead targeting the Aintree Bowl two days earlier.

Following his thrilling victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, connections had been planning a huge spring double with both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the world’s most famous steeplechase on Merseyside in their sights.

However, Hanlon made the difficult decision to withdraw his stable star from last week’s blue riband due to the rain-softened ground and admitted afterwards he was considering switching his focus at Aintree to give him the best opportunity of having another shot at Gold Cup glory next term.

The County Carlow handler now confirmed that plan, with an appearance in the Bowl potentially set to be followed by an outing in the Punchestown Gold Cup in early May.

Shark Hanlon with Hewick
Shark Hanlon with Hewick (Niall Carson/PA)

“I’m going for the Bowl and then after that it’s quite possible we’ll come back to Punchestown for the Gold Cup there,” said Hanlon.

“I want to go for the Gold Cup next year, so he can go for a National next year, and the Bowl looks the race now as a lot of the horses out of the Bowl have run in the Gold Cup and our lad will be going there fresh.

“What have you going for the Bowl? Paul Nicholls’ horse (Bravemansgame) will probably go again, but he got a hard race in Cheltenham, and you don’t know how Nicky Henderson’s horse (Shishkin) is.

“It’s a £250,000 race, so it’s worth a lot of money, and that’s our aim.”

Hewick’s defection from the Grand National means Gordon Elliott’s Conflated now heads the Aintree field.



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Hanlon considering Aintree options for Hewick following Gold Cup defection

Shark Hanlon will consider running Hewick in the Aintree Bowl rather than the Grand National next month after making the “difficult decision” to sidestep Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Having claimed King George glory since falling two fences from home in last year’s Gold Cup, the nine-year-old was all set for his second shot at the blue riband before being readied to line up under top-weight in the world’s most famous steeplechase on Merseyside.

But having decided against running his stable star at Prestbury Park due to the rain-softened ground, Hanlon revealed the Bowl may now be his next objective.

Trainer Shark Hanlon with Hewick
Trainer Shark Hanlon with Hewick (Niall Carson/PA)

Hanlon said: “It wasn’t a difficult decision (not to run in the Gold Cup). I walked the track twice this morning, it’s not going to get any better than it is as they’re giving rain again tonight.

“It’s disappointing to get this far, but we’ll head to Aintree now and I’d say it’s 50-50 between the National and the Bowl, it’ll be one or the other.

“I’d say after missing here I’d be turning towards the Bowl. I’d love to give him another chance at a Gold Cup and I’d hate for him to get hurt in the National (without getting that).

“He’s in great shape, the horse has never been as well in himself. It’s a hard decision to make as the horse travelled over and the owners have all landed in, but we’ve made the decision.”



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Shark alert for those taking to Cheltenham Gold Cup waters

The Cheltenham winner’s enclosure has staged many famous celebrations over the years. But there may be scenes like nothing witnessed before if Hewick can complete his remarkable rags-to-riches story by claiming the sport’s ultimate prize.

Seven years ago genial trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, whose larger than life personality is matched by his formidable frame, made the best business decision of his life when leaving the nearby Goresbridge sales ring with an unraced two-year-old for a paltry €850. The rest, as they say, is history.

“The whole story from the start is brilliant, as he only came from down the road. You could travel the whole world to get a horse like him and I got him five minutes down the road,” said Hanlon.

“There are plenty of quality horses slip through the net at the sales and there’s plenty of quality horses go through Goresbridge.

“I know it’s only five minutes down the road, but I would never miss it – you never know where your next bargain is and I like bargains!”

Hewick is no oil painting to look at. Unlike his trainer he cuts a fairly diminutive figure when compared to the jet black reigning Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs for instance. But what Hewick can do is gallop hard and fast – and for a long way.

The nine-year-old failed to complete in each of his three starts in the amateur point-to-point sphere, a fairly inauspicious start to say the least, and while he won four times from 21 attempts over hurdles not even Hanlon himself could have anticipated his subsequent meteoric rise.

As if plundering one major handicap in the form of the 2022 bet365 Gold Cup was not enough, he went on to land the Galway Plate and the American Grand National at Far Hills, where the locals probably did not know what had hit them when ‘The Shark’ rolled into town. A bigger boat, indeed.

On their return to Ireland both horse and trainer popped into the local pub for a pint of Guinness – as you do – making headlines both good and bad, although it was all good fun. And he is clearly a hugely popular horse, in an area where Willie Mullins is king.

“Any race we’ve put to him, he’s always there and never let us down,” Hanlon added.

“To have such a consistent horse like him makes such a difference to the yard, there’s a buzz everywhere.

“I was in Bagenalstown there the other day and they were all wishing me well and they’ve got Willie over the road, but they are talking to me, so that’s great.”

After living the American dream Hewick was readied for his first tilt at Gold Cup glory last March. He was running a fine race, too, albeit probably booked for minor honours, when tipping up two fences from home.

Far from that being the final chapter in this extraordinary tale, Hanlon’s pride and joy has only enhanced his reputation since, bouncing back from his Prestbury Park spill with a Grade Two victory at Sandown before finishing an honourable fourth in the French Champion Hurdle.

Paddy Hanlon on Hewick during a media morning at Shark Hanlon’s yard
Paddy Hanlon on Hewick during a media morning at Shark Hanlon’s yard (Niall Carson/PA)

Hewick’s defence of the Galway Plate during the summer was a little underwhelming, but yet again he roared back over the Christmas period, coming from the clouds to win a thrilling renewal of the King George VI Chase at Kempton, another big-race triumph that was thoroughly enjoyed by his trainer.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant to win a King George. I knew before leaving here that there was going to be serious pace as there were six runners in it and five were front runners. I remember saying to Gavin (Sheehan) that going down the back he could be 10 lengths off them but not to stop riding him, keep going because your last two furlongs are going to be your best in the race.

“Frodon for the last five years has gone out at 100 miles per hour and I was delighted to see Paul Townend go out and take him on (aboard Allaho). When that was happening they were going too hard.

“We’ve made the running in the Gold Cup last year and in a Galway Plate and he couldn’t lie up with them – that is how hard they were going.”

With connections immediately deciding to give Hewick another break following his King George heroics, he will return to the Cotswolds fresh and seemingly in peak condition as he goes for gold once more.

Shark Hanlon and Gavin Sheehan with Hewick after winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton
Shark Hanlon and Gavin Sheehan with Hewick after winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

Just as was the case at Kempton, Hanlon is hopeful that granted suitable conditions no horse will be coming home stronger than Hewick.

“I’ve never seen a Gold Cup yet where there isn’t plenty of pace and the extra two furlongs will be a big, big help for us,” he said.

“He’s not a big horse and he’s easy enough to get fit. After Kempton he had two or three weeks off and he’s back there working now.

“He ran well in the race last year and there is no reason why he won’t run well again in it this year.

“Hopefully this year, with a clear round of jumping, he won’t be too far away.”

If Hewick does come up the famous hill in front, bars across Cheltenham and beyond should ready themselves for a Shark attack so fierce even Jaws would be quaking in his boots.



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Gainford back on board Hewick in Gold Cup

Jordan Gainford will be reunited with Hewick in next week’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The young rider is the nine-year-old’s regular partner, steering him to a hat-trick of big-race victories in 2022 as he landed the bet365 Gold Cup, the Galway Plate and the American Grand National.

However, injuries have meant Gainford has not been on Hewick’s back competitively since his fall two fences from home in last year’s Gold Cup, with Rachael Blackmore steering him to a subsequent win at Sandown and Gavin Sheehan in the saddle for his most recent triumph in the King George at Kempton.

Having been sidelined since suffering damaged vertebrae in a fall at Naas in mid-December, Gainford made his return late last month and after enjoying his first winners since his comeback at Leopardstown on Sunday and Monday, trainer Shark Hanlon has confirmed he will be back on board Hewick at Prestbury Park.

Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon with Hewick
Trainer John “Shark” Hanlon with Hewick (Niall Carson/PA)

Hanlon said: “Jordan is going to ride the horse. I spoke to Gavin last night to tell him, he’s done nothing wrong and gave the horse a great ride (at Kempton) and he might ride him again one day.

“But Jordan is back and has ridden a couple of winners and in fairness he made the horse for me, so I think it would be only manners to let him ride him next week.

“He was down here yesterday to sit on the horse and at that stage he didn’t know if he was riding the horse or not, but he came down and schooled him. I told him the story, I said we’d have to wait and see and in fairness to him he came down and rode the horse twice in the last week.

“Jordan knows the horse well, the horse travels well for him and I’m delighted to have him on board.”

Sheehan posted a classy response to the decision on X, stating: “Huge respect to @jhanlonracing for his loyalty to Jordan and best of luck to Hewick and connections for Cheltenham.

“He gave me one of my greatest moments in the sport and I’ll always be grateful.”

BoyleSports, who sponsor Hanlon’s yard, have pledged to donate €100,000 to charity, split between the Irish Injured Jockeys and the Injured Jockeys Fund in the UK, if Hewick wins.



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Hanlon yet to firm up Hewick’s Gold Cup jockey

Shark Hanlon is set to make a decision later this week on who will partner his stable star Hewick in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jordan Gainford is the nine-year-old’s regular rider and steered him to a hat-trick of big-race victories in 2022, landing the bet365 Gold Cup, the Galway Plate and the American Grand National.

However, injuries have meant the young rider has not been on Hewick’s back competitively since his fall two fences from home in last year’s Gold Cup, with Rachael Blackmore steering him to a subsequent win at Sandown and Gavin Sheehan in the saddle for his most recent triumph in the King George at Kempton.

Shark Hanlon with Hewick at his yard
Shark Hanlon with Hewick at his yard (Niall Carson/PA)

Having been sidelined since suffering damaged vertebrae in a fall at Naas in mid-December, Gainford made his return aboard the unplaced Fury Road in Saturday’s Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and also had two rides for his boss Gordon Elliott at Naas on Sunday, but without success.

With the Cheltenham Festival now only a fortnight away, Hanlon is clearly keen for Gainford to enjoy a confidence-boosting success before making a final call on whether he will be recalled.

“We’re going to leave it until later on in the week, we’ll see if Jordan can ride a winner or two before we make a decision,” the trainer said on Monday morning.

“I was talking to the owner last night and that’s what we decided.”



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