Hewick could go straight to the Gold Cup after Shark Hanlon pulls the plug on soft-ground Betfair Chase bid

Shark Hanlon says Hewick will be trained for a defence of his Ladbrokes King George VI Chase crown, although he warns the nine-year-old may not be seen on a racecourse until the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup if the weather fails to cooperate. 

Hanlon's comments came after he withdrew Hewick an hour before he was due to run in the Betfair Chase on Saturday, as rain continued to fall at Haydock.

"We didn't need rain but it came and there'll be other days," said Hanlon, who has the comfort of having already got two runs into Hewick this season, most recently when second to Envoi Allen at Down Royal. "It's disappointing because he was in really good form and had a good run the last day."

Kempton can provide some of the driest jumping ground in Britain over Christmas but Hanlon warns that Hewick will head to the King George only if conditions suit.  

Hewick: did not run on SaturdayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"You know now that when the rain comes it could rain for two or three months, so I'd say it'll nearly be Cheltenham for his next run. We've made no decision. We'll train him for the King George, but we'll have to wait and see. It's the right thing for the horse as he wants a bit of nice ground."

Hewick was due to be Hanlon's final big-race starter before the trainer begins a six-month suspension on December 1. The ban was reduced from ten months on appeal after he was found to have brought racing into disrepute for transporting a dead horse in an open trailer attached to one of his branded lorries, with the carcass fully visible to the public.

On plans for Hewick during his suspension, Hanlon said: "We have nothing planned yet and in the next three days we'll see what we're going to do. Everything will come out in the next week."

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