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 victorious go back to action over hurdles at previously this month, when ridden by the trainer's kid Paddy Hanlon, and is set to return to the bigger barriers this weekend.


Hewick is also 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 prospect of drier ground in West Yorkshire suggests Hanlon is presently favouring a trip throughout 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 said.


"There's rain entering into Down Royal and they've been watering for the last 2 weeks. We might end up with accepting soft ground and if that occurred we 'd certainly go the other way.


"The other day in Thurles he was great and Paddy was excellent on him. We have not decided 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 great possibility for him to win another great pot on Saturday. There's a few great horses in the Down Royal race and a few great horses in Wetherby, but isn't he entitled to take his possibility no matter where we go?"


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


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


Hewick was among 10 horses entered 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 safeguarding champ The Real Whacker, Dan Skelton's triple Grade One winner Protektorat and Pic D'orhy, who could bid to supply 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.