Hanlon Favouring Charlie Hall Test For Hewick

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, Galway Plate and King George VI Chase hero made a triumphant go back to action over hurdles 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 finished a close 2nd last season, but the possibility of drier ground in West Yorkshire implies Hanlon is currently favouring a trip throughout 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 coming into Down Royal and they have actually been watering for the last 2 weeks. We might wind up with accepting soft ground and if that happened we 'd definitely go the other method.


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


Hewick after triumph at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)


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


Hewick ended up a creditable eighth in the Grand National last season and while another at the world's most famous steeplechase is not being dismissed, his trainer is considering up another significant reward in the spring.


Hanlon added: "Down the roadway I 'd be thinking about the Stayers' Hurdle - I believe he might be a right horse for a Stayers' Hurdle this year."


Hewick was among 10 horses went into 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 team consists of Patrick Neville's protecting champ 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 (Venetia Williams), Ga Law (Jamie Snowden), Hang In There (Emma Lavelle) and Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball) are the other hopefuls.