Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon plans to run his stable star Hewick in next week’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup feature event at Punchestown.
Hewick was a faller when running well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month but Hanlon says he is in great form and will love some good ground;
Hewick heads to @punchestownrace for @Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup. Catch up yesterday with @jhanlonracing, who reflects on his unlucky fall at Cheltenham and his hopes for next week. They even poses with The Eclipse Trophy which arrived from the USA 🇺🇸 yesterday. pic.twitter.com/qZkBrGaau7
— Dave Keena Racing (@davekeena1) April 19, 2023
See also: John “Shark” Hanlon picks up more awards last night in America
“He was running a cracker in Cheltenham, I’d say a lot of people thought we should not have been there, but coming down the hill, they all changed their minds.”
“He hit a flat spot, in every race he ever runs he hits a flat spot. It was just one of those things, he never put his legs out and he fell. Still, we are all very proud of him, he has proved how good he is.”
“He is a lot better horse on better ground. You would be hoping the ground in Punchestown will be a lot better.”
“I am hoping Willies horse might not be as good on good ground, and our lad will be better!”
Speaking of Willies Horse, Galopin Des Champs has been given the go-ahead to compete in the event, with the possibility of becoming only the fourth horse to complete the Cheltenham-Punchestown Gold Cup double in the same season.
