Hewick aiming for French Hurdle this weekend
Hewick is travelling to France this week Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Shark Hanlon’s stable star Hewick will be ridden by Gavin Sheehan in Saturday’s French Champion Hurdle as he bids to go one better than when finishing second in the race last year.
The pint-sized 10-year-old recorded his biggest career success under Sheehan in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 2023, and his Muine Bheag based handler is confident that another big day could be on the cards.
Speaking exclusively to official stable partner, BoyleSports, Hanlon said: “He ran a great race in the Aintree National and his win at Thurles the time before was brilliant, to have Paddy on board was special because he’s looked after the horse for so long.
“Gavin is back on him for Saturday and Hewick will travel to France on Wednesday. He’s well used to travelling and he’s in great form. If they don’t get too much rain over there, I think he’ll put it right up to the horse that beat him last year, Losange Bleu, and hopefully that’ll be enough to be bang there.
“He’ll have a break after and we’re thinking of another go at the American National in October.” Two other notable Irish entries feature on the list for the 3m1f contest including Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee, who looks to get his campaign back on track after unseating at Cheltenham before disappointing at Aintree and Punchestown.
Il Etait Temps, who was last seen scoring at Sandown at the jumps season finale in the UK, could be the sole representative from Closutton as Willie Mullins seeks a sixth winner in the race, with a strong home challenge including Theleme, and last year’s winner Losange Bleu, trying to fend off the Irish raiders.
