The news that Hewick’s horse racing trainer Shark Hanlon will face a 10-month suspension, this has got many asking – what will happen to his stable star and 2023 King George VI Chase hero Hewick?
Hewick Horse Racing Career Up In The Air, With Shark Hanlon Suspended
Despite Irish horse racing trainer Shark Hanlon saying he was “surprised and very disappointed” after getting suspended for 10 months, it was the news a lot of racing people saw coming.
This ban was due to pictures of Hanlon transporting a dead horse in an open trailer on a main road, on one of his branded lorries – visible for all to see.
Therefore, it wasn’t long before the world of social media picked up these images – with the incident happening back in June 2024.
In delivering the verdict, which Hanlon is reported to be appealing, the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board said labelled the situation “grossly negligent” and “injurious to the good reputation of the sport”.
Shark Hanlon was also handed a €2,000 fine to add to his 10-month suspension.
However, this ban has now got many horse racing fans wondering what will happen to his horses – in particular his stable star HEWICK, who landed the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day last season.
Hewick Was Bought For Just €800
Hewick, who is already one of the fancies with the best UK horse racing betting sites to win another King George on December 26th, was a rags-to-riches horse racing story.
Bought for just €800, the horse has gone onto win his owner T J McDonald £714,839 in total prize money (and counting), thanks to his 10 career wins and many placed efforts.
Hewick’s big day in the sun (or cold) came on Boxing Day 2023 when he came with a thrilling late run to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton – the big festive feature of the Christmas period. Beating Bravemansgame and Allaho into second and third – winning £143,045 in the process.
The horse has also won a Bet365 Gold Cup (2022) and even an American Grand National (2022) – albeit which is run over hurdles and 2m5f, so very different to the Nationals UK and Irish horse racing fans are used to.
But – what will happen to Hewick now Shark Hanlon is suspended from training?
Hewick Horse Stats and Profile
- Age: 9
- Rules Runs: 37
- Wins: 10
- Chase Wins: 6
- Hurdles Wins: 4
- Biggest Wins: King George (2023), US Grand Natioanal (2022), Bet365 Gold Cup (2022)
- Career Winnings: £714,839
Which Trainers MIGHT Get Hewick With Shark Hanlon Suspended?
With Shark Hanlon unable to train horses for a while – then, if Hewick wants to try and defend his King George VI Chase crown, he’ll need to find a temporary (or maybe permanent) new stable.
If this is to happen, we take a look at some of the possible destinations for Hewick.
Willie Mullins
The biggest horse racing trainer over the jumps in Ireland is Willie Mullins, so could Hewick head here?
With Hanlon based on the Kilkenny/Carlow border, this means he’s not far at all from the Willie Mullins camp at Closutton – which would make a move seamless.
Mullins also already has big names in the staying chase division – including his two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs. He’s also familiar with winning the King George, having taken the big Kempton race in 2001 with Florida Pearl and more recently in 2021 with Tornado Flyer.
Willie Mullins has also trained 103 Cheltenham Festival winners – more than any other handler.
Gordon Elliott
Another top Irish trainer is Gordon Elliott, who himself is no stranger to being banned by the Irish horse racing authorities.
Elliott was pictured sitting on a dead horse back in 2021 and in the process was suspended for six months – missing the 2021 Cheltenham Festival too.
At the time Elliott moved some of his horses to Denise Foster, while other owners switched their horses to the likes of Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead.
However, Gordon Elliott trains in County Meath, which is about a 1h 30mins drive from the Shark Hanlon yard. This coupled with Elliott’s suspension past might, therefore, not be a good fit for Hewick – we’ll see.
Oh, Elliott is also a trainer that is yet to win the King George VI at Kempton, so could this be a factor?
Henry de Bromhead
Henry de Bromhead is also one of the best Irish jumps trainers in the country and knows a thing of two about training top staying chasers.
He’s won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice since 2021 – with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard – and would surely welcome Hewick into this team.
De Bromhead is also, however, a trainer still to win the King George – but, on a plus, his Waterford base is just 43mins from Shark Hanlon.
Nicky Henderson
Outside of Ireland, Hewick’s horse owners might decide for a country change and if they do former champion NH handler Nicky Henderson would surely be one of those top of the list.
Hewick is no stranger to running in the UK – running there eight times in his career.
Henderson has trained 72 Cheltenham Festival winners during his career and many top names like Sprinter Sacre, Long Run, Might Bite and Bobs Worth – to name just a few.
He’s also got the top hurdler Constitution Hill in his care at his Seven Barrows yard and with three King George VI wins, knows a thing or two about the big Kempton race.
Paul Nicholls
The 14-time British NH trainer Paul Nicholls will be another popular pick for Hewick, if the King George winner has to move stables.
Nicholls has guided many staying chasing greats to big wins – including Kauto Star and Denman. While Ditcheat-based Nicholls also has a top record in the King George VI chase – winning it no fewer than 13 times, which is the most in the history of the race.
Therefore, if Hewick does have another tilt at the King George on his radar, there will be no better trainer than Paul Nicholls to get him there.
The last King George win for Nicholls came in 2022 with Bravemansgame, who was also runner-up to Hewick in 2023.
Jamie Snowden
Okay, Jamie Snowden might not be an obvious pick for Hewick to end up with.
But there is a reasoning to the thinking here – which mainly surrounds UK-based jockey Gavin Sheehan.
Sheehan rides most of the Jamie Snowden horses but he was also employed by Shark Hanlon to ride Hewick in last season’s King George VI Chase win.
Therefore, if connections want to keep the Sheehan/Hewick partnership going, then they might consider Jamie Snowden’s Lambourn base.