Hanlon Favouring Charlie Hall Test For Hewick

Shark Hanlon is "95 percent sure" Hewick will head to Wetherby on Saturday for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.


The bet365 Gold Cup, American Grand National, Galway Plate and King George VI Chase hero made a triumphant go back to action over obstacles at Thurles earlier this month, when ridden by the trainer's boy Paddy Hanlon, and is set to go back to the larger obstacles this weekend.


Hewick is also entered in the Grade One BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, a race in which he finished a close second last season, but the prospect of drier ground in West Yorkshire implies Hanlon is presently favouring a trip across the Irish Sea.


"It's not set in stone yet, however I'm 95 percent sure we'll go to the Charlie Hall," he said.


"There's rain coming into Down Royal and they have actually been watering for the last two weeks. We could wind up with accepting soft ground and if that happened we 'd absolutely go the other method.


"Recently in Thurles he was very good and Paddy was excellent on him. We have not decided who will ride him this weekend yet, possibly simply returning over fences we might put Gavin (Sheehan) back on him, we'll see.


Hewick after success at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)


"It's an excellent opportunity for him to win another good pot on Saturday. There's a few excellent horses in the Down Royal race and a few great horses in Wetherby, however isn't he entitled to take his opportunity no matter where we go?"


Hewick finished a creditable eighth in the Grand National last season and while another crack at the world's most popular steeplechase is not being eliminated, his trainer is considering up another significant reward in the spring.


Hanlon included: "Down the roadway I 'd be thinking of the Stayers' Hurdle - I believe he might be a right horse for a Stayers' Hurdle this year."


Hewick was among 10 horses went into for the Charlie Hall Chase on Monday, with Gordon Elliott's set of Croke Park and Stellar Story the 2 other Irish-trained contenders.


The home team consists of Patrick Neville's safeguarding champ The Real Whacker, Dan Skelton's triple Grade One and Pic D'orhy, who could bid to supply Paul Nicholls with his sixth triumph in the race following the previous successes of See More Business (1999 and 2000), Silviniaco Conti (2011 ), Cyrname (2020) and Bravemansgame (2022 ).


Djelo (Venetia Williams), Ga Law (Jamie Snowden), Hang In There (Emma Lavelle) and Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball) are the other hopefuls.