In an exclusive interview with BoyleSports, John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has opened up about getting his licence back and the support he has received in recent months.
Shark also revealed his plans for Cheltenham Festival runners, a Champion Hurdle tip, Hewick’s Grand National ambitions, a ‘machine’ like horse who could become one of the greatest of all time with a win at this year’s Festival plus more expert insights.
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When Shark Hanlon Gets His Licence Back & The Support He Has Received
I’ve been very busy! We had a new gallop installed, so that was a big thing for us. I lost my licence three months ago but we are back in business on March 1, so I am really looking forward to getting back home.
Listen, we sold a lot of horses at Doncaster and now I have to go and try and replace them, and get new owners, which is not simple.
The only good thing out of this is that pretty much the whole world was behind me so I am really hoping we have plenty of support when we come back.
Hewick To Head To Aintree For Grand National?
I think we will end up at Aintree for the Grand National. It depends on the ground if he runs at Cheltenham, we haven’t made our mind up yet, the big aim for this year and for the last six or seven months was the National so that’s where we will probably be going with Hewick.
Hewick to win the Aintree Grand National – 50/1
Cheltenham Runners & Festival Thoughts
You see Willie for example, he doesn't run his horses til November and he has a big team of horses. This summer, after being so good, the winter was also good, a lot of horses we haven't got to see until now. Sometimes they might come out in October but this year, we didn’t really see the big guns until Christmas this year from his yard.
I don’t think we will be having any runners at Cheltenham this year, just because of what has happened over the last few months. It’s just too soon, Aintree will be where I may have three or four of them out, but I am really looking forward to Cheltenham just the same.
How The Irish Festivals Compare To Cheltenham
They are becoming big time but look, Cheltenham is never going to change being the number one in the sport.
That said, I don’t know if a lot of the Irish punters will head over this year because of the price, it is so expensive. As a matter of fact, I met a lot of people at DRF from Britain, who would rather come there and go to Cheltenham because it is more affordable. I think we could see smaller crowds there this year.
The Best Position Irish Racing Has Ever Been In?
Racing in Ireland has never been as strong as it is now. Never ever. To have Willie, Gordon, Henry, and their team of horses this year, it’s very strong.
Over in England, I think Paul Nicholls is just a bit short on power, Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson will be the two that come out on top over there I think.
Cheltenham Tips
Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill, I love him and I think he will win. I hope the English have a few winners. But, Willie has such a strong team this year and to be fair, we don’t know how good some of them are but we know they are good.
Constitution Hill to win Cheltenham Champion Hurdle – 4/7
Champion Bumper
Only on Thursday he just unleashed a bumper horse at Punchestown that looked incredibly good. The ground was heavy today, he will have a lot better ground at Cheltenham, to put him in at 7/2 for the Champion Bumper after that run today, I’d be laying him for sure.
Competing Against ‘Machine’ Like Galopin Des Champs
The horse I have been looking at all year, Galopin Des Champs, he is a machine. I am tired of looking at the back of him with Hewick to be honest. We had a great run against him at Punchestown on good ground.
Hopefully, we will get good ground again one day and we can take him on again, but Galopin Des Champs is a machine of a horse. He’s a star, he will be one the greatest of all time if he wins a third Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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