Latest news with #Hewick
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Hewick aiming to make it third time lucky in French Champion Hurdle
The remarkable Hewick will try to make it third time lucky in Saturday's French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil. Runner-up to Losange Bleu in last year's Grande Course De Haies d'Auteuil, and fourth in the race in 2023, Hewick is back for another crack at the €390,000 feature, which is off at 3.25 Irish time and live on Sky. Even by the unlikely standards already achieved by 'Shark' Hanlon's €850 bargain buy during his career, victory in France's biggest hurdles contest might constitute a peak. He is the sole Irish contender in an eight-runner contest where local star Losange Bleu is favourite to defend his title. Benie Des Dieux was Ireland's last winner six years ago. READ MORE Also lining up is the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral, last year's Cheltenham Festival winner, who is part-owned by Alex Ferguson and has been supplemented into the race. Nicholls won the 'Grande Course' in 2016 with Ptit Zig. Cork-born jockey Gavin Sheehan is again on board Hewick, having guided him into eighth in last month's Grand National at Aintree. Sheehan's only other spin on the hugely popular veteran was when successful in the 2023 King George at Kempton. 'He's a wonderful horse. I said if he won the Grand National, they probably would have made a movie out of him!' Sheehan said. 'Having had that run last year and that experience will help. It's different racing over there, a different style. I've rode in it before and it's a straightforward track. The only difference is they have a hurdle on a bend. The drier the ground the better for him as well,' he added. Bookmakers rate Hewick a general 11/4 second favourite to challenge the odds-on Losange Bleu. Sunday's €900,000 highlight at Auteuil is the Grand Steeple-Chase De Paris, off at 3.05. There will be no Grade One jumps action in Ireland for more than five months, but the relentless National Hunt circus rolls into Wexford on Saturday. In the wake of Rachael Blackmore's retirement earlier this week, Darragh O'Keeffe continues to be busy picking up the bulk of rides for Henry De Bromhead, and Aspire Tower looks the one to beat in the novice chase. The last of O'Keeffe's six rides at Wexford is Pebble Bleu in the handicap chase, where the course hurdles winner Kiln Time has just a second start over fences. Inexperience is an obvious concern but a mark of 81 over fences looks exploitable for Harry Kelly's runner.
Irish Independent
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Globetrotter Hewick eyes French Champion hurdle glory as Ger Lyons can land Lacken success
Hewick has danced every dance in a thoroughly memorable racing career and John 'Shark' Hanlon's stable star bids to go one better when tackling the French Champion Hurdle (3.25) at Auteuil today.
Irish Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
The €800 horse Hewick travelling to France for chance at huge pot
Hewick is off on his travels again as he bids to go one better than last year in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, the French Champion Hurdle. Shark Hanlon's 2023 King George winner finished second to Losange Bleu 12 months ago and the pair are on course to meet again on May 17. Should he run well, then Hanlon will give serious consideration to another crack at America's Grand National Hurdle Stakes, which he won in 2022. 'We are definitely going to France. He is in great form,' said Hanlon, who also saddled Hewick to finish fourth behind Theleme at Auteuil in 2023. 'After France, he will get his break and we'll make a decision – I'd love to go back to America. I'll have talks with the owners and see what they want to do. 'There are a few good pots around this year too, so we will wait and see. 'We have no decision on who is going to ride him yet, we will sit down and talk about it.' With regards the Auteuil feature, Willie Mullins has entered Il Etait Temps, who returned to action with a sensational win at Sandown on the last day of the season, while Joseph O'Brien could run Home By The Lee. Sign up to our horse racing newsletter here to get news direct to your inbox.
RTÉ News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Hewick set for another French Champion Hurdle tilt
Hewick is off on his travels again as he bids to go one better than last year in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, the French Champion Hurdle. Shark Hanlon's 2023 King George winner finished second to Losange Bleu 12 months ago and the pair are on course to meet again on 17 May. The 10-year-old recently finished eight in the Aintree Grand National. Should he run well, then Hanlon will give serious consideration to another crack at America's Grand National Hurdle Stakes, which he won in 2022. "We are definitely going to France. He is in great form," said Hanlon, who also saddled Hewick to finish fourth behind Theleme at Auteuil in 2023. "After France, he will get his break and we'll make a decision - I'd love to go back to America. I'll have talks with the owners and see what they want to do. "There are a few good pots around this year too, so we will wait and see. "We have no decision on who is going to ride him yet, we will sit down and talk about it." With regards the Auteuil feature, Willie Mullins has entered Il Etait Temps, who returned to action with a sensational win at Sandown on the last day of the season in the UK, while Joseph O'Brien could run Home By The Lee.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grand National 2025 full list of confirmed horses, riders and odds for today's race
The Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday afternoon as 34 horses compete to try and win the prestigious race. The world-famous steeplechase will see the runners and riders do two laps of the course at the Merseyside racecourse - galloping a total of 4 miles and 2½ furlongs and jumping 30 fences. Ahead of the race defending champion I Am Maximus, ridden by Paul Townend, is among the favourites. The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was a seven-and-a-half-length winner last year. READ MORE: The Greater Manchester walking trail with a sun-trap café worth a visit on a sunny day READ MORE: Trafford Centre reveals new store and major changes coming this summer Also heavily backed are Iroko, Stumptown and Hewick. They will be among the riders and owners hoping to win the grand prize of half a million pounds. The race meet began on Thursday, when almost 23,000 people turned out for Opening Day, and will culminate on when the Grand National steeplechase is run. There is television coverage of the race on ITV and Racing TV. Both Racing TV and ITV 1's coverage gets underway at 12:45. The race will start at 4pm. Here is a full list of all the runners taking part in this year's national, the odds in brackets and the jockey, as of Friday night. Odds are according to Betfred. I Am Maximus (11/2) - Paul Townend Iroko (7/1) - Jonjo O'Neill Jr Hewick (10/1) - Gavin Sheehan Stumptown (10/1) - Keith Donoghue Perceval Legallois (10/1) - Mark Walsh Minella Cocooner (12/1) - Jonathan Burke Intense Raffles (12/1)- J J Slevin Vanillier (12/1) - Sean Flanagan Kandoo Kid (18/1) - Harry Cobden Hyland (18/1) - Nico de Boinville Minella Indo (20/1)- Rachael Blackmore Meetingofthewaters (20/1) - Danny Mullins Hitman - (22/1) Freddie Gingell Beauport (22/1)- Sam Twiston-Davies Three Card Brag (22/1) - Sean Bowen Nick Rockett (25/1) - Patrick Mullins Appreciate It (25/1) - Sean O'Keeffe Grangeclare West (28/1) - Brian Hayes Threeunderthrufive (28/1) - Harry Skelton Senior Chief (33/1) - Darragh O'Keeffe Bravemansgame (40/1) - James Reveley Fil Dor (40/1) - Sam Ewing Coko Beach (40/1) - Jody McGarvey Monbeg Genius (40/1) - Nick Scholfield Twig (40/1) - Beau Morgan Duffle Coat (40/1) - Danny Gilligan Broadway Boy (50/1) - Tom Bellamy Royale Pagaille (66/1) - Charlie Deutsch Stay Away Fay (66/1) - Paul O'Brien Chantry House (80/1) - James Bowen Idas Boy (80/1) - Harry Bannister Celebre D'allen (80/1) - Micheal Nolan Conflated (100/1) - Jordan Gainford Horantzau D'airy (100/1) - Ciaran Gethings Reserves: Shakeem Uparry; Roi Mage, Favori de Champdou and Fantastic Lady
