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King George hero Hewick will carry prime weight on this 12 months’s Grand Nationwide after the rankings had been unveiled in Liverpool.
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s cut price £800 buy has proved a revelation lately, profitable the Galway Plate, Oaksey Chase and the American Grand Nationwide, collating over £600,000 in prize cash.
These victories got here earlier than a exceptional last-to-first success within the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, flying residence to defeat Bravemansgame and Allaho within the course of.
The Hewick crew have a good time King George victory at Kempton
Hewick has been handed an official ranking of 169 for the Grand Nationwide, which means he’ll bid to turn out to be the primary horse to hold prime weight to victory since Crimson Rum again in 1974.
“I knew he’d have prime weight,” coach Hanlon stated. “It’s important to anticipate that. He most likely deserves prime weight. I feel the journey will go well with him.
“He is going for the Gold Cup first and please God he comes out of the Gold Cup protected and if he does he’ll undoubtedly head there [to Aintree].
“It is a mighty day. It is a type of days you look ahead all 12 months to. The Nationwide, the Gold Cup and the King George at Kempton – they’re the three huge days in England aren’t they, so it is nice to have a runner there.”
Hewick and Jordan Gainford keep on to win the Galway Plate
Hewick was found in an area sale “5 minutes down the street” and famously value his proprietor TJ McDonald simply €850 (round £800).
“We at all times stated that he’d be a Nationwide horse and there is a month between the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Nationwide this 12 months so I feel it is a huge alternative for him,” Hanlon added.
“Crucial factor is that he will get good floor. With fewer runners within the race this 12 months there will not be fairly as a lot weight between us and the horses on the backside. In earlier years the distinction might be a good bit extra and we would be giving extra away.
“He gained the Galway Plate off almost prime weight, he gained the bet365 (Oaksey Chase at Sandown Park) off an enormous weight. It isn’t that he isn’t used to carrying prime weight and he carries it very effectively.
“All is nice with him and he could not be higher. I am very, very proud of him.”
Derek Fox and Corach Rambler win the Grand Nationwide final 12 months
Final 12 months’s winner Corach Rambler has been given a ranking of 159 and can carry 11st 2lb, whereas Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier – present favorite for the race – has a sexy mark of 151.
Noble Yeats, who gained the Aintree showpiece in 2022, has been handed 165, whereas Welsh Grand Nationwide winner Nassalam was given 161 for the Gary Moore crew.
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