26 December 2023 , 15:35
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Bargain horse Hewick enhanced his cult status when he won an extraordinary edition of jump racing's Christmas showpiece, the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.
Since being bought for a paltry £800 by his trainer Shark Hanlon his exploits on the track have established him as one of the most popular jumpers in training. He has posted victories in some of the sport’s biggest staying prizes, claiming the bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and the American Grand National for which he won a prestigious Eclipse Award as the champion jumper in the US.
And he was also running a mighty race when a faller at the second last fence of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. He was a 12-1 chance for the King George at Kempton, where for a long way he appeared to be toiling at the back of the six runner field.
But the complexion of the race changed dramatically in the straight where Shishkin, playing a major role having refused to start his previous race, went for home.
Shishkin jumped the second last a length in front of the pursuing Allaho and Bravemansgame, but three strides away from the fence his front legs splayed and he went down, pitching Nico de Boinville out of the saddle.
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Allaho and Bravemansgame were left in front and appeared in line to slug it out for first until Hewick, under Gavin Sheehan, came right past them to score by a length and a half.
Gavin Sheehan salutes the crowd after winning on Hewick (Getty Images)
Gavin Sheehan (second right), Trainer John "shark" Hanlon (second left) and owner TJ McDonald (right) celebrate Hewick winning The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (PA)At one stage Hewick was so far back, he traded 550-1 in running and Sheehan said: “If it wasn’t the King George I would have pulled him up.
“I know he stays but early on he wasn’t able to get going. I’m gobsmacked.”
Hewick was cut to 14-1 from 33-1 by Ladbrokes for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which will be his next race, according to Hanlon who had spent Christmas Day at Kempton with his horse and the rest of his family.
“He will stay all day,” he said. “They went very hard and he couldn’t lie up. A tougher track would be better for him.
“It will be straight to Cheltenham now. He should be going for the English National but there is only one Gold Cup.”