Connections say defending champion Hewick could swerve King George for hurdle option at Leopardstown

Last season's King George VI Chase hero Hewick is not certain to line up in this month's Kempton showpiece with connections considering a crack at the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle instead. 

Hewick defied an in-running high of 549-1 on Betfair when swooping late to land the 2023 running of the King George under Gavin Sheehan and is 10-1 with sponsors Ladbrokes to become the fourth back-to-back winner this century following Clan Des Obeaux, Silviniaco Conti and the mighty Kauto Star, who won it five times. 

However, the nine-year-old is a shorter price for the Christmas Hurdle on home soil at Leopardstown on December 28 at only 7-1 with Paddy Power. Tara Lee Cogan, who has moved into Shark Hanlon’s Fennis Court yard in County Carlow while the trainer serves a suspension,said a return to hurdling over the festive period is a real possibility. 

Cogan said on Thursday: "Hewick seems to be doing really well and he’s being geared towards Christmas. Paddy [Hanlon], who rides him out every day, seems to be very happy with him. 

"Plans are still up in the air with regard to where he will run at Christmas, but we are very much thinking about the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. That looks like a suitable option, if we don’t go for the King George or the Savills."

She added: "As people will know, ground is a big thing to Hewick and nobody is keen to run him on real deep ground over fences, so that’s why the hurdle race is a big option for him at Leopardstown. Let’s see what the weather does over the next fortnight. It will be a late call.’’

Hewick was a fine second in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil back in May on his last appearance over hurdles, albeit a very different style of obstacle to traditional ones. Before that, he was sixth to Strong Leader in the Liverpool Hurdle at last season's Grand National meeting at Aintree. 

Hewick's most recent appearance was in the Champion Chase at Down Royal, where he was caught late by Envoi Allen. He was due to contest the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month but was taken out of that at the 11th hour due to deteriorating ground conditions at Haydock.

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Kempton, December 26)
Ladbrokes: 3 Spillane's Tower, 7-2 Grey Dawning, 5 Corbetts Cross, 6 Envoi Allen, 8 Banbridge, 9 L'Homme Presse, 10 Hewick, Il Est Francais, 16 bar.

Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle (Leopardstown, December 28)
Paddy Power: 3 Teahupoo, Home By The Lee, 9-2 Bob Olinger, 11-2 The Wallpark, 7 Hewick, Noble Yeats, 10 Asterion Forlonge, Brighterdaysahead, Hiddenvalley Lake, 12 Ballyadam, 14 bar.

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