Hewick to swerve Gold Cup in favour of Grand National

Kilkenny trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has confirmed stable star Hewick will swerve a showdown with Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of a bid for glory in the Grand National at Aintree.

Willie Mullins’ superstar is currently a hot 2/5 favourite to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Festival’s blue riband event, and Hanlon believes Hewick could put in a bolder show over racing’s most famous fences.

Speaking at a Cheltenham Festival preview night hosted by BoyleSports at Limerick Racecourse, Hanlon said: “Galopin Des Champs is one of the best horses I’ve ever seen, he’s different class to the horses around him at the moment.“ He stays, he gallops, you can drop him in, you could make the running. You can do anything with him. I think he would have beaten Kauto Star.

“This isn’t the strongest race he’s ever run in, they’re not in the same league as him. Hewick won’t run here but we will go for the Grand National.

“The plan since last year was the National and I’m tired looking at Galopin Des Champs’ arse, what’s the point in taking him on again? Hewick is a great horse, but he’d never beat him.

“In an English National, we’ll have a little chance with him there off eleven-and-a-half stone. The lowest weight that’s going to get into this year’s National is 150, they’ll have 10st 10lbs and there’s not a big difference between top and bottom weight.

“The trip will suit him and the ground will suit him. He has to have good ground and hopefully we won’t be far away.

“If we won the National I’d come home some day, but it wouldn’t be the first day and it wouldn’t be the second day!”   

Hewick has won the King George, Galway Plate and America National in the past as well competing at the business end of the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup’s so a return to form would be welcome.