Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has claimed his Cheltenham Gold Cup hope, Hewick, would be a much shorter price if he was housed at one of Ireland’s more renowned yards.
“Hewick would be a shorter price if trained by Mullins or Elliott”
The €850 purchase and King George winner could breach the €1m mark in prize money if he wins Cheltenham’s blue riband event and is a current 14/1 shot with BoyleSports, while defending champion Galopin Des Champs is the even money favourite.
Hewick fell two out when prominent in last year’s renewal, but speaking at a BoyleSports preview night for the Cheltenham Festival in County Tyrone, Hanlon said: “His ideal condition is good ground and I was in two minds whether to run him or not in the Gold Cup last year. But when he was coming down the hill I wouldn’t have swapped him for any other horse, he was running a cracker.
“I think he would have been in the first three if he’d have stood up and it would have been a great result on ground that wasn’t fully right for him. The only chance we’ll have of beating Galopin Des Champs is if we get proper good ground, but he’s a double-figure price and if Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott had him after winning a King George, he’d probably be about 8/1.
“He came out of the King George really well, after two days he was as fresh as could be. He worked very well in Naas the other day, and another one or two bits of work will have him ready. I think he’s improved since last year and I’m hoping the weather dries up a little bit because this weather would break your heart at the moment.”
"I’d say that the English are going to struggle".
Hanlon also weighed in on the dominance of Irish horses at the Festival, predicting a meagre return for his British counterparts across the Irish sea:
“I’d say that the English are going to struggle. They could get two or three winners over the week and that could be as much as they get.”
BoyleSports this week announced it is teaming up with John ‘Shark’ Hanlon as his Official Stable Partner and will be closely following Hewick’s journey to Prestbury Park. If Hewick is successful in his bid for the Gold Cup, BoyleSports will donate €100,000 to the Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ) and the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) in the UK.
Shark Hanlon was speaking at a BoyleSports Cheltenham Preview Night in aid of SVP at the Bardic Theatre in Donaghmore, County Tyrone. To make a donation, visit https://www.svp.ie/fundraiser/cheltenham-preview-night-2024/ .
*Prices subject to fluctuation.
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