Shark enjoys first success following Hewick’s retirement John ‘Shark’ Hanlon had his first winner since Hewick’s retirement do last Saturday, as Pure Logic (10/1) landed Killarney’s delayed Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under the trainer’s son Paddy Hanlon. Pure Logic had previously finished well-held at odds of 4/6fav in a course-bumper in 2024, but today made most of the running to score a maiden success on her 14th start, holding on by a neck from Laligurash . The race had been delayed by 54 minutes due to an earlier concussion injury suffered by Gary Noonan. Hanlon senior, whose horses went off colour after January’s Thyestes Day, revealed “we have had 14 seconds in the last nine weeks, so we are entitled to another winner. "I went over to England with a bundle of horses this year, where we’ve had three winners and eight seconds. The horses have been running great but we couldn’t get a winner recently. “I’m delighted to get this mare to win, as her owners are from Kerry. There is never a problem with them and they love the game. “When this mare got hurt and I had to give her time off, there wasn’t a word said, so I’m delighted for them. She is a right mare and we brought Paddy back home from England to ride this and another one (unplaced Stormbreaker) in the next.” Hanlon's grand 11-year-old chaser Hewick was recently retired with career earnings of €924,000, following famous wins in the King George VI Chase, American Grand National, Galway Plate and Bet365 Gold Cup.
