Hewick is likely bound for the Betfair Chase at Haydock following a narrow loss at Down Royal, where he finished a close second to Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase. Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon was pleased with Hewick's effort, noting that the seven-year-old’s tenacious run was slightly hampered by softer-than-ideal ground, resulting from course watering earlier in the week.
Hanlon remarked, "He ran a fantastic race and gave it everything. Had we chosen Wetherby’s Charlie Hall, we might have come out on top, but the decision to challenge at Down Royal was still rewarding." He continued, "The ground was softer than we’d hoped—yielding instead of firm—but Hewick handled it well."
Initially, Hanlon considered returning Hewick to defend his King George title at Kempton on Boxing Day or entering him in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. However, the trainer’s upcoming suspension complicates plans beyond early December. With this in mind, Hanlon now sees Haydock’s Grade One Betfair Chase on November 23 as the ideal next step, provided conditions remain favourable.
"If Haydock’s ground stays good, we’ll aim for the Betfair Chase," he explained. "After that, we’ll focus on the Gold Cup and the Grand National. A run at Haydock would set him up perfectly to go fresh into the Gold Cup."