Trainer Shark Hanlon has warned good ground will be vital regarding Hewick’s participation in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
The surprise King George VI Chase winner has always shown his best form on a sounder surface, including a Galway Plate and American Grand National, and the dry weather experienced in Britain over Christmas meant that Kempton Park became an ideal target for the gelding. Despite appearing to struggle as the field turned into the home bend, Hewick picked up late on under Gavin Sheehan to steal victory from Bravemansgame and Allaho.
He featured amongst the twenty entries announced for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Tuesday, and Hanlon is keen to point out the importance of the ground: "Good ground is so important to him. He's not a big horse and he needs good ground. With the way the weather has been the last two years, he has been very hard to place.
"Had the race been at Leopardstown, I probably wouldn't have run. The only reason we went over was for the good ground and it was only just good enough.
"Willie's (Mullins) horse (Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase) was very, very impressive though. I'm hoping by the time March comes around the ground is good because I don't think anything will beat Willie's horse on soft ground.
"The only chance we'd have of beating him is on good ground. Cheltenham last year wasn't good enough for him – hopefully this year the ground is good enough for him. If the ground was soft, I'd say we wouldn't run.
"If it's soft in March, I'd probably wait for the National, because usually the ground in Aintree is fairly good. He came home out of the race 100 per cent, he's fresh as a daisy and I could run him again today.
"In my opinion, they all went too hard. We have a horse who made the running in the Galway Plate and the Gold Cup, and to make the running in those races you've got to go hard – and he couldn't lie up.
"I think they went a million miles an hour. You had Ryanair winners (Allaho and Frodon) and an Arkle winner (Shishkin) taking each other on – they were going a two-mile pace.
"They jumped off, went a real good clip and Gavin (Sheehan) said they quickened again from six out. They were taking each other on the whole way. It happens every time, you've really got to stay.
"The only chance we have of beating Willie's horse (at Cheltenham) is good ground, so we'll be hoping it dries up. If it's good ground, we'll definitely take him on."
