Hewick takes stunning victory in King George VI Chase
The Shark Hanlon ride was out at 550-1 during the race
Tuesday, 26 December 2023
Gavin Sheehan celebrates victory
John 'Shark' Hanlon and Gavin Sheehan were in dreamland after Hewick came from 550-1 to win the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Trained by Hanlon and ridden by Sheehan, Hewick, who cost just €850, stumped onlookers as he stormed to an unlikely victory on St Stephen’s Day.
Hewick, who's previous victories include the Galway Plate, US Grand National, Oaksey Chase and bet365 Chase, was last throughout, including at the final fence, but stormed to victory ahead of more the more fancied Allaho and Bravemansgame.
"I am feeling great, it’s something that you dream of," said Hanlon.
"The judges were talking about three horses and they forgot to talk about our lad.
"Halfway down the back, I said he’ll finish fourth, turning in I said we might get third and just between the second last and the last I would have loved to see a longer run in but that’s all it was and he got there, and got there very well.
"He is a little star. When he walked around the ring earlier all big 16 and three horses, Willie’s horse is around 18 hands and my little one is around 16 hands but he has a big heart and that’s most important."
Shishkin led the way early on, with Allaho and Bravemansgame in hot pursuit but the former unseated Nico de Boinville at the second to last fence, making it a race of three with just one to go.
Into third place, Hewick kicked on and reeled in 2022 winner Bravemansgame and Willie Mullins' Allaho after the last to steal the victory in incredible fashion.
Hewick had hit a high of 550-1 during the race and Sheehan revealed that in any other circumstances, he would have eased up but the pull of the King George and the heart of Hewick were enough to push on for victory in style.
“If it wasn’t the King George, I probably would have pulled him up," he said.
“I knew that he stays and stays and I just wasn’t able to get going. There’s only a certain amount of questions you can ask them and if they’re not responding, you can’t ask.
“Shark said he’s probably the smallest horse here but he’s got the biggest heart and that perfectly sums him up.
“I was absolutely delighted to get the call from Shark [to ride], it was a no-brainer. To come here and do it like that was amazing.”
Trained by Hanlon and ridden by Sheehan, Hewick, who cost just €850, stumped onlookers as he stormed to an unlikely victory on St Stephen’s Day.
Hewick, who's previous victories include the Galway Plate, US Grand National, Oaksey Chase and bet365 Chase, was last throughout, including at the final fence, but stormed to victory ahead of more the more fancied Allaho and Bravemansgame.
"I am feeling great, it’s something that you dream of," said Hanlon.
"It is great to come over here and win the King George. When you are a young lad, you think maybe someday you might have a runner on the day or a runner in it, but you never think you’re going to win it.UNREAL! 🙌
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) December 26, 2023
Hewick goes from last to first to win the King George VI Chase @kemptonparkrace 🔥@jhanlonracing | @GavinSheehan92 pic.twitter.com/XzDQs2cgYf
"The judges were talking about three horses and they forgot to talk about our lad.
"Halfway down the back, I said he’ll finish fourth, turning in I said we might get third and just between the second last and the last I would have loved to see a longer run in but that’s all it was and he got there, and got there very well.
"He is a little star. When he walked around the ring earlier all big 16 and three horses, Willie’s horse is around 18 hands and my little one is around 16 hands but he has a big heart and that’s most important."
Shishkin led the way early on, with Allaho and Bravemansgame in hot pursuit but the former unseated Nico de Boinville at the second to last fence, making it a race of three with just one to go.
Into third place, Hewick kicked on and reeled in 2022 winner Bravemansgame and Willie Mullins' Allaho after the last to steal the victory in incredible fashion.
Hewick had hit a high of 550-1 during the race and Sheehan revealed that in any other circumstances, he would have eased up but the pull of the King George and the heart of Hewick were enough to push on for victory in style.
“If it wasn’t the King George, I probably would have pulled him up," he said.
“I knew that he stays and stays and I just wasn’t able to get going. There’s only a certain amount of questions you can ask them and if they’re not responding, you can’t ask.
The moment you realise you’re going to win the @Ladbrokes King George 🤯
— The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) December 26, 2023
Baby Shark @PaddyHanlon5 👏 @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/avkiR4ym8l
“Shark said he’s probably the smallest horse here but he’s got the biggest heart and that perfectly sums him up.
“I was absolutely delighted to get the call from Shark [to ride], it was a no-brainer. To come here and do it like that was amazing.”