Fans of the Shark Hanlon-trained Hewick will have to wait until at least Sandown this weekend to see the Carlow stable’s star in action.
Declared for today’s Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Punchestown, it was always going to be a case of the ground conditions needing to improve with the going soft pre-festival on Monday and for yesterday’s opening day of racing. As of 10am (Wednesday), Hewick will not run in the feature race of the day.
The American Grand National winner had been priced at 25/1 with Gallopin des Champs 3/10 in some markets. Hanlon has long said that Hewick “wants good ground” to make an impression so instead, he’ll be packing his bags for Sandwon where he won the bet365 Gold Cup this time last year.
That race goes to post at 2.15pm this Saturday afternoon.
