As the 2025 Randox Grand National moves into view, can Hewick puts his name up in lights once more?
Some 16 months on from snatching King George VI glory at Kempton, the 10yo trained by JJ Hanlon had since been on a losing streak of seven races, but returns to Aintree on the back of a win.
A horse with immense character and heart but with just one Group 1 win to his name, could Hewick silence his doubters, conquer the ultimate test of equine endurance and claim one of the biggest prizes in jump racing?
Kempton glory
Boxing Day, 2023. A crisp, sunny winter’s afternoon at Kempton Park, with the King George VI Chase once more the highlight of the festive racing calendar.
As Allaho and Paul Townend lined up the 11/8F, both a resurgent Shishkin and defending champ, Bravemansgame, lurked to spoil the day for Willie Mullins.
But amongst the longer prices, a plucky 8yo and former winner of the Bet365 Gold Cup, Hewick and jockey Gavin Sheehan would cause a sensation.
As the closing stages of the contest approached the final fences, it looked a three-way scrap between the main players. In the rear-view mirrors, however, a dash of green was making a surge.
With the penultimate jump negotiated by the leaders, Shishkin suddenly lost his footing, unseating Nico de Boinville, impeding Allaho and Bravemansgame badly, seemingly setting up a one-on-one finale. But they had not reckoned on the plucky outsider.
As the gap closed at the front, Hewick surged toward the final fence – still in third – but driven on by Sheehan. Leaping the barrier, both leaders began to tie up having lost momentum. Hewick then bolted up and stormed past both runners to claim a famous and unlikely win.
A 12/1 winner, Hewick was touted for another shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but as on more than one occasion last term, the weather gods did not play ball.
However, that could change this weekend.
Form
For any Hewick backer this weekend, it is important to note the margin in time between his last victory.
Yet, after a run of seven races without a win, his last outing in the Jimmy Neville Memorial Hurdle at Thurles – during Cheltenham week – ended a near 15-month drought.
It is also worth noting his aforementioned misfortunes in terms of going, which has forced his withdrawal from many a marquee contest.
What looks to be a big factor this year, is for even casual observers of the forecast for the week ahead, the weather at Aintree – like much of the UK this early spring – is warm, sunny and importantly for Hewick and JJ Hanlon, dry.
Winning at home on Irish turf last time out on good ground, sticklers for form will note that his big Kempton day was on ground good and not a million miles from a firmer deck.
Market mover
So on recent form and potential going alone, Hewick’s chances are there; the punters believe so too.
Available for around 25/1 only a fortnight back, the 10yo’s price has halved and at time of writing hovers around the single figure in odds, and at a best price of 10/1 with SpreadEx.
Perhaps the big concern is the sheer gruelling nature of the biggest test of horse and jockey, and the gelding’s furthest trip to date was in the Midlands Grand National some three years where he was pulled up. However, on that day, the ground was considerably softer and not to his liking.
Hewick has been a proven chaser before and even having fallen late in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, was well in the picture at a huge price.
In terms of Aintree, his debut run came on National weekend last year in the Liverpool Hurdle, but where he could only muster a sixth place, his more recent brush with a second Group 1 winner came in the Ladbrokes Chase at Drogheda back in November, following home former Ryanair Chase victor Envoi Allen, but the very well fancied 8/11F Gerri Colombe.
Of course, the National can be in large parts a lottery, but as we have seen in recent years with both Corach Rambler and the defending champion, I Am Maximus, a successful path can be plotted by one of the shorter prices.
Hewick’s issue will be staying in the picture and out of any congestion over the jumps, but if he stays in the mix over the final mile, he can challenge.
Make no mistake, he has the stamina and without any question the heart of a potential champion. His backers will certainly hope so.
