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01 Oct 2025
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01 Oct 2025
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Hewick, trained by John Hanlon PIC: Sportsfile
Bookies BoyleSports has reported a significant antepost gamble on Shark Hanlon’s Hewick as the ten-year-old prepares for a tilt at the Grand National on April 5.
The pint-sized racing superstar - who cost just €850 at a horse sale in Goresbridge - was last seen sauntering to victory under Hanlon’s son, Paddy, in a hurdle race at Thurles earlier this month, which his trainer feels will have him primed to run a huge race at Aintree.
“If we get nice ground, Hewick is going to Aintree with a massive chance. He schooled over the National fences yesterday at the Curragh and really enjoyed himself," Hanlon told BoyleSports. “Everything is going to plan so far and he had a great win to improve his confidence under Paddy at Thurles. He’s a horse that the public love and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went off favourite in Aintree.”
Hewick has already been backed from into 12/1 (from 66/1) for racing’s most famous jumps race, with last year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner, Intense Raffles currently heading the betting at 6/1.
I Am Maximus, who won the race in 2024, is one of a number of well-fancied runners for JP McManus, with the famous green and gold silks also set to be carried by Iroko (7/1) and Perceval Legallois (12/1).
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “We’ve had a number of well-backed horses ahead of this year’s Grand National, but none more so than Hewick. He’s by far the biggest liability in our book but what a fairytale story it would be in the world’s most famous race.”
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