Hewick lands American Grand National 'Shark' Hanlon's talented chaser Hewick switched back to hurdles to land the valuable American Grand National at Far Hills, New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. Always prominent, the seven-year-old hit the front three out under Jordan Gainford and soon went clear to win by eleven and a half lengths from Noah And The Ark. It's been a great year for Hewick, who landed the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in the spring and the Galway Plate in July. He looked set to add last month's Kerry National at Listowel where he was on terms with Busselton when getting the last wrong and unseating Gainford. After this latest success, an emotional 'Shark' Hanlon said in a television interview: "He travels so well. Everyone was saying that the (2m5f) trip was too short, that we were wrong to come here, but this horse has an awful lot more pace than what people think he has. He proved that in Galway and he definitely proved it today. "It's a dream come true for us, for everyone. 'Tis me own young lad there looking after him, 'tis a dream come true. "I just have to say, there was an accident in Ireland a couple of months ago, Jack de Bromhead, and we're all thinking of him. My young lad who led up the horse was his best friend and he cried there and he said, 'this is for Jack'. "I'll tell you a little story that happened the other day. The horse was gone for a week, and my young lad looks after the horse at home. "And we got out of the car the other day, down in the yard, and I got out of the car, Rachel got out of the car, and when Paddy got out of the car the horse he whinnied at him, wondering like, 'what are you doing here?! "It's just a great feeling, and a beautiful track. They have such a good job done on it, oh my God, it's amazing. The ground was beautiful, the crowds here, lads, we would never get anything like this in Ireland, so we wouldn't. "It's a beautiful place and fair dues, there's a lot of work after going into this place, and fair dues to the track and management." Winning rider Jordan Gainford added: "Fair play to 'Shark', he always has him bang on, and to TJ (McDonald, owner) and all the lads in 'Shark's, it's a big gang of lads there and I'm just very fortunate to get on him. "My agent at home, Garry Cribbin, got me on this lad back at Listowel nearly a year and a half ago now. "Look it, they could have got anyone over here to ride him but, in fairness, they brought me over and I really appreciate that, it's unbelievable. "When he hits the front he doesn't do much. In his previous runs he just loves galloping, he's a relentless horse to gallop really. "The second one down the back the first time, there's a bit of sun on it, and he came out of my hands a little bit, but after that he was every foot perfect. Just for it all to go to plan is brilliant." There was further Irish success on the undercard, with The Insider and Ted Hastings providing Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell with a double while Sean Flanagan also got on the scoresheet aboard Redicean, formerly trained by Alan King and now in the care of Leslie F Young.
