BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
All going well and according to plan, The John “Shark” Hanlon trained Hewick will take his place among the leading Steeplechasers in today’s Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3.30pm as the Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs will be a short price favorite to defend his Gold Cup crown.
The rags to riches story of Hewick is nothing short of incredible. Having been bought for just €850 at the Goresbridge Sales in 2017, Hewick showed very little initially and indeed it took him 15 races including three point to point runs to get a victory.
He made his debut in a point to point in Knockanard in February 2019 where he unseated his rider in a race won by 2020 Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Ferny Hollow.
Two more falls in point to points followed, before he made his racecourse debut in a Maiden Hurdle at Tramore in May 2019.
He ran a respectable race on his debut when finishing 5th at odds of 66/1, but overall his form in 2019 was disappointing as he was unplaced in five subsequent efforts.
However, he finished 2019 with two placed efforts, as he was 2nd in a Maiden Hurdle in Sligo before finishing his season in 4th place in a Handicap Hurdle at the Listowel Harvest Festival.
Three very disappointing efforts followed in 2020, but the wheel of fortune turned as he finally gained a victory in winning a handicap hurdle in Kilbeggan, before winning a handicap hurdle in Navan only two weeks after breaking his maiden tag.
He started to perhaps show signs of potential with an impressive performance on winning his chasing debut in a beginners steeplechase in Clonmel in June 2021, as he was rotating between fences and hurdles.
Hewick won again in a three mile handicap hurdle at the Listowel Festival, before finishing a close 2nd in a similar type of race in Gowran Park behind The Gordon Elliott trained Tullybeg with Jiving Jerry trained by Gowran native Jimmy Barcoe close behind in 3rd.
He returned to winning ways with victory in The Durham National at Sedgefield in October over three miles and five furlongs with Shane Fenlon on board. It was a valuable contest to win (worth €27,000), and it would offer an indication of what was to follow.
The Shark had said on his website that Hewick would need between three and a half to four miles to be at his most effective and that win in Sedgefield proved his staying power, and he was seen to even greater effect in his next race in Sandown.
In the Bet 365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase worth €90,000 to the winner, The 16/1 shot with Jordan Gainford was prominent throughout and having taken the lead approaching the home straight, Hewick produced a powerful and emphatic performance to stretch clear and win by eight lengths.
The Shark’s word was proven most accurate.
Having reverted back to hurdles, Hewick was a close 2nd in a three mile hurdle race in Ballinrobe before returning to the bigger obstacles where he pulled off a most famous triumph by winning the Galway Plate.
Another victory almost followed in the Kerry National in Listowel where he was disputing the lead before falling at the final fence, but on his next outing the Shark enjoyed a weekend to remember stateside.
Running in The American Grand National in Far Hills in New Jersey, Hewick ran out a most emphatic winner by almost a dozen lengths to win the first prize of $160,000 on an unforgetable weekend in the states.
He was given a well earned break following his exploits in America, and didn’t reappear again until last years Cheltenham Gold Cup that was run on St. Patricks Day.
Hewick was running a tremendous race and he was up with the leaders until coming to grief at the penultimate fence. However, his performance in last years Gold Cup showed that he is able to compete with the best steeplechasers.
Victory in The King George on St. Stephen’s Day showed up his run in last years Gold Cup in a greater light, and as a result connections will have every right to feel more than a hopeful of a very good run today.
The story and progression of Hewick has been nothing short of remarkable, and Gold Cup glory was nothing more than a pipe dream particularly having not won on his first 14 starts.
However, the dream has become a reality and having captured the hearts of the nation with his exploits over the past two years, there may yet be another chapter written in this incredible story.
Hewick is also entered in the Aintree Grand National where he would have to shoulder top weight of 11-12 should he run, and his rise to the top is proof that the smaller stables can win Grade 1s despite the increasing dominance of Willie Mullins.
The public have shown tremendous affection for Hewick in a similar way to previous Cheltenham winners like Dawn Run, Danoli, Dorans Pride an Imperial Call, and if the fairytale can somehow continue with the reality of Gold Cup glory today, the celebrations would be on a par with the most famous scenes witnessed in the Cotswolds.
