Kerry National: Galway hero Hewick in 'mighty form' but faces mammoth task

Wednesday: 4.20 Listowel
Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase | 3m | 4yo+ | TG4/RTV

Can Hewick land another lucrative prize? The seven-year-old has already taken his career earnings through the €300,000 mark following victories in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and the Galway Plate this year.

Sandown was a stunning performance, but Galway was even better –he had to survive a late scare caused by a wayward loose horse up the home straight. However, winning a red-hot running of the Kerry National off a mark of 163 would be the finest feat.

To put Hewick's mark into perspective, he is now rated just 9lb shy of Galopin Des Champs, who is favourite to win next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He has come a long way in a short space of time, but giving lumps of weight to horses like El Barra, Cape Gentleman, Fire Attack and Gabbys Cross is a huge ask.

However, this 3m trip will be more suitable than that of the Galway Plate as he is a thorough stayer.

The 1-2-3 from the Galway Plate renew rivalry. El Barra was third and will be ridden by Paul Townend, who has been successful on five of his last six rides at Listowel. He is 5lb better off with Hewick for a three and three-quarter length beating at Ballybrit.

The ultra-versatile Darasso, who has an identical rating over hurdles and fences having had 36 starts across both codes, got closest to Hewick at Galway and is 4lb better off now. He has just a half-length to find and is the pick of owner JP McManus's number one Mark Walsh.

No favourite has won the race in the last decade and you have to go back to Northern Alliance in 2009 to find the last successful market leader.

In the last ten runnings, only Snow Falcon in 2018 carried more than 10st 10lb to win. It has been a race where lightweights have dominated, so if first reserve Rock Road gets in the race he will carry just 10st.

He has won three of his last four starts, including the Mayo National at Ballinrobe, and were he to get a late call-up he might even go off favourite.

One who fits the bill is Gabbys Cross. Seven-year-olds have won the race in five of the last seven years and he carries 10st 6lb.

He was an emphatic winner of the Blazers Handicap Chase at Galway and a 6lb hike might not be enough to stop him in his tracks. Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead won this €200,000 event in 2019 with Poker Party and they could do so again with Gabbys Cross.

'Hewick did a lovely piece of work a few days ago' - Hanlon

Hewick is in the same form as he was heading into the Galway Plate according to trainer Shark Hanlon, who won the showpiece of the harvest festival in 2011 with Alfa Beat.

Hanlon is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task facing his stable star, who has to carry 11st 12lb. The last topweight to win the Kerry National was Euro Leader 17 years ago.

Hewick: landed a big-race double in the bet365 Gold Cup and Galway PlateCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

He carried 12st under Ruby Walsh but was only rated 133. Hewick is rated 30lb higher than him, which shows how the quality of lucrative handicaps has grown in Ireland over the last two decades.

Hanlon said: "He's in mighty form and did a lovely piece of work a few days ago. I know it's not going to be easy with so much weight, but the longer trip will suit him better and the ground will be ideal too.

"The horse who finished second to him at Galway [Darasso] is his biggest danger, but we were hampered by the loose horse up the straight, so I thought we were value for more than a half-length.

"I'd be hoping we can confirm that form. We're all looking forward to the race and we can't wait to have a crack at it."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of El Barra, Recite A Prayer, Rock Road and Bacardys
El Barra seems to be in great form and the track, the ground and the trip will suit him. He ran a big race in the Galway Plate and I'd be hoping there's a little bit more improvement to come from him. It would be lovely if Rock Road got into the race as he's been in terrific form. Recite A Prayer and Bacardys were a bit disappointing in the Midlands National and need to bounce back.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Darasso, A Wave Of The Sea, Early Doors, Fire Attack, Busselton and Embittered
Busselton ran well in the Blazers at Galway and he will enjoy the step up to 3m. Fire Attack seemed to be going well when he fell in the Galway Plate, hopefully he will have better luck this time. Darasso ran really well in the Plate. We're hoping he can repeat that performance. It's probably as far as Embittered wants to go, but the nice ground will suit him. Early Doors is back from a little break and we're hoping for a good run.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Hurricane Georgie and Tullybeg
Hurricane Georgie had a great summer and kept on improving. We were expecting a big run in the Galway Plate, but she only got as far as the first. We've aimed her at this since and we've put a 7lb claimer [Michael O'Sullivan] up. She could run a big race. Tullybeg is only a reserve, but hopefully he gets in because he was impressive at Wexford.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Discordantly
We're taking every bit of headgear off him and he'll just have a bridle! We schooled him in front on Tuesday morning and he went great. It just depends on whether he can get away on terms with them. If he does, I can see him running a big race.

Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Freewheelin Dylan
We've been aiming him at this and he's got a nice weight. The ground should be fine and he ran well for a long way in the Blazers. Ricky [Doyle] gets on well with him and won the Irish National on him.

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