Hewick and Jordan Gainford (green) lead over the last © Photo Healy Racing
The 11/2 joint favourite Hewick landed the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle under 5lb claimer Jordan Gainford.
The 6-year-old, who’s by the Pivotal horse Virtual, was ridden along in fifth entering the straight but picked up well to lead before the last and stayed on strongly to beat My Immortal (13/2) by four and a half lengths.
The other 11/2 joint favourite Whatucallher who made the running, finished third.
Hewick won a couple of staying handicap hurdles around this time last year and was also successful over fences at Clonmel in June.
Winning trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon said: “He’s very consistent and I was disappointed he didn’t get into the Kerry National. I also had him entered in this race so we said we’d come here.
“He loves the trip and the ground dried up which is a big help. He loves good ground and I love having a winner at Listowel.
“He only cost 300 quid in Goresbridge and there is no doubt he’s a better chaser than over hurdles.
“He ran in Perth the last day but the ground ended up soft and he was only beaten half a length. If he had won he could have gone up 5 or 6lb which would have got him into the Kerry National.
“When the ground changes he’ll go out.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
