Hewick starts new season with a win in Thurles
Jockey Paddy Hanlon spoke to RacingTV after Hewick's win in Thurles today
Hewick enjoyed the 12th win of his career today in Thurles on his first appearance of the new season.
Paddy Hanlon, son of trainer Shark, was in the saddle for his second win on the track with his beloved horse and he enjoyed every minute of it.
“Ìt’s great to get back in the winner’s enclosure again, great first run of the season.
“I can’t thank TJ (McDonald, owner)enough for letting me up on him again, he’s been some star for us,” Paddy told RacingTV after the race.
Now a 10-year-old, Hewick put in an impressive round of jumping for his first outing of the season.
“He loves jumping, that’s only really come in the last year and a half with him. He’s really attacking his hurdles and fences. Even in the (Grand) National he didn’t miss one bar the canal turn. It’s like he’s getting better, his jumping there today was magnificent,” said Hanlon.
Great to see 12-time winner Hewick back in the winners enclosure earlier today!
— Down Royal Racecourse (@Downroyal) October 16, 2025
Sounds like @jhanlonracing is leaning towards the Grade 1 @BetVictor Champion Chase next, with Hewick aiming to go one better after finishing second in a thriller last year.pic.twitter.com/RobgufghoX
That sixth placed finish in last season’s Aintree Grand National was one of the highlights of last season for Hewick and the long term aim could be to go there again next year. In the more short term, a return to Down Royal in the Champion Chase, a race in which he ran brilliantly to finish second last year, looks likely and then perhaps another shot at King George that he so famously won at Kempton in 2023.
“It was some run out of him to finish second last year (at Down Royal), he was coming back at him at the line. We’ll go back there with another chance, he seems to have all his ability there so hopefully we can go there with a right crack,” said Hanlon.
The young jockey was in Ireland for the day as he is currently serving as an apprentice in Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard having move there at the start of the month.
“It’s been very good, I’ve been welcomed very much there. Everybody has been nice in there and you’re riding good horses so there is nothing to be complaining about,” said Hanlon.
