Emotional Shark says Hewick's Down Royal is a boost after difficult few months

It was an emotional John ‘Shark’ Hanlon that spoke to Racing TV shortly after another thrilling run by his stable star Hewick today at Down Royal.

Hanlon’s horse led jumping the last before Envoi Allen but in typical Hewick-style, he battled back to regain the lead another just after the last. It wasn’t to be though as Henry De Bromhead’s horse, who won this Grade 1 in 2022 and beaten narrowly into second place last year, rallied and pulled clear in the last 50 yards.

Shark admitted that the performance was a tonic after a difficult few months. Both his own father and the father of his partner Rachel have passed away in recent months and a six month suspension handed down by the IRHB is due to start on 1 December “This gives everybody a lift,” said Hanlon as he spoke to Gary O’Brien.

“We’re after going through very tough times, between my own father and Rachel’s father and what’s after happening us as well. I think only for the support that I’m getting from the people I wouldn’t be here. Everyone is brilliant, no matter where you go, everyone is brilliant,” said Hanlon.

After an early season run at Punchestown, Hewick was primed to do well today and the Bagenalstown based trainer felt the watering of the track went against him.

“If they hadn’t overwatered the ground like they did he would have won, on good ground he’d win, that ground is far from good. He went to Punchestown the last day and I knew he’d blow up and he did. He’s improved a lot since. The horse that won today was the one coming up the road that I was afraid of,” said Hanlon.

Hewick could now prepare to try retain the King George that he won at Kempton last Christmas, although Hanlon indicated that he would prefer to go to Leopardstown around that time, before aiming at the Cheltenham Festival or the Aintree Grand National in 2025.

“I’m looking forward now to Christmas, or Cheltenham in March or the English National, we’ll have to see where we go.

“I don’t know about Kempton, if the ground was good I’d be very happy to stay at home in Leopardstown. Leopardstown can stay dry if they don’t overwater it and I’d prefer to go there if the ground was good. He’ll be put in both races and (go) wherever the ground is best,” he said.

🗣️ “If they hadn’t of overwatered the ground like they did, he would of won”

Hewick ran a cracking race to just be beat in the Champion Chase

Shark talks to Gary O’Brien of @RacingTV on Hewicks run pic.twitter.com/p4MWnWFPd5

— Shark Hanlon Racing (@jhanlonracing) November 2, 2024