Hewick© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon expects his Hewick to run in the coming months ahead of a Gold Cup bid in March but says his stable star might not be ready in time to run at Christmas.
The eight-year-old burst on to the chasing scene with wins in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, the Galway Plate and American Grand National at Far Hills in 2022 and while a heavy faller in March's Gold Cup, won a Grade 2 Sandown chase the following month.
Hewick's last run was when well beaten under top weight in this year's Galway Plate and Hanlon reports "he is back in training for three weeks or a month, he hasn't done any work although is in great form. We are getting him ready for Christmas but I don't know if he'll be ready or not.
"He had a little cut in the front of his leg before back coming to me, it happened out in a field and I don't know what happened. He may have hit himself but it is nothing major."
He added "we'll either go to Leopardstown for the Savills Chase or the King George at Christmas but if he doesn't make it, will run in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles in January before going straight to Cheltenham.
"Last year we went to every cockfight but I'm training him for a Gold Cup this time. Last year paid well but having run so well in the Gold Cup (in March), we said we'd give him one shot at it now. Afterwards we could go back to Far Hills (in October).
"I haven't asked Gordon (Elliott, trainer ) for Jordan (Gainford, retained jockey) yet."
