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 VI Chase hero made a triumphant return to action over difficulties at Thurles earlier this month, when ridden by the fitness instructor's child Paddy Hanlon, and is set to go back to the larger barriers this weekend.


Hewick is likewise gone into in the Grade One BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, a race in which he ended up a close 2nd last season, but the prospect of drier ground in West Yorkshire suggests Hanlon is currently favouring a trip 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 coming into Down Royal and they've been watering for the last 2 weeks. We might end up with yielding to soft ground and if that happened we 'd certainly go the other method.


"The other day in Thurles he was really good and Paddy was great 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 success at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)


"It's a good opportunity for him to win another good pot on Saturday. There's a few great horses in the Down Royal race and a couple of great horses in Wetherby, however isn't he entitled to take his opportunity 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 famous steeplechase is not being ruled out, his trainer is considering up another major reward in the spring.


Hanlon included: "Down the road I 'd be thinking about the Stayers' Hurdle - I believe he might be a best 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 2 other Irish-trained competitors.


The home group consists of Patrick Neville's safeguarding champion The Real Whacker, Dan Skelton's triple Grade One winner Protektorat and Pic D'orhy, who might 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.