John “Shark” Hanlon has revealed the secret to buying Bet365 Gold Cup winner Hewick for just £800.
The Irish trainer, renowned for his bargain purchases, was thrilled to see the chaser stride clear at Sandown. Saturday's feature race carried a first prize of just over £90,000 – a huge sum for a horse sourced for so little.
And Hanlon, who also prepared £600 mare Skyace for a Grade 1 victory, said Hewick caught his eye despite being on the small side. He told Racing TV. "He's a very good walker and I bought him in Goresebridge in the sales beside me at home. I love a good walking horse. He was only the price of a cow!"
Hewick headed long-time leader Step Back three fences from the finish at the Esher venue and galloped eight lengths ahead of Musical Slave. The 4-1 favourite Kitty’s Light ran his usual gallant race, a half-length away in third, as the winner became the sixth Irish-trained chaser to scoop the pot.
"I went and had a few quid on him because when he (jockey Jordan Gainford) got up on him in the ring, he started bouncing," Hanlon added. "I said that I had never saw him as well. My own young lad has been riding him out here for the last three days and he rang me this morning and said 'Daddy I want you to back the horse for me'. I said 'why' and he said 'because he nearly bucked me off this morning.' So it's all good vibes."
The previous Irish-trained winners of the bet365 Gold Cup were Church Island (2010, Michael Hourigan), Jack High (2005, Ted Walsh), Life Of A Lord (1996, Aidan O’Brien), Drumlargan (1983, Edward O’Grady) and the great Arkle (1965, Tom Dreaper).
Hewick's owner T J McDonald added: “I can’t believe he won so well. His odds were a bit crazy during the week at 33-1, I kept saying to myself that he can’t win it but the more I looked at it with the race cutting up, I thought he could. I didn’t actually have a penny on him believe it or not but the prize money is alright so we’ll take that!"
On the day he became champion trainer for the 13th time, Paul Nicholls stole the show with a five-timer.
Knappers Hill, Saint Calvados and Greaneteen secured the opening three races under Harry Cobden, before McFabulous gained an overdue win in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle. Bet365 Handicap Hurdle hero Samarrive rounded off a tremendous afternoon for the Ditcheat stable.
"The horses are all coming right and why they weren’t right a few weeks ago, I will never know," Nicholls said. “Any time you go racing you are happy with one winner but to get five is just amazing."
Full results from Sandown
1.50
1 Knappers Hill 3-f
2 Boombawn 11-1
3 Alto Alto 18-1
2.25
1 Saint Calvados evs f
3.00
1 Greaneteen 11-8f
2 Sceau Royal 5-1
3.32
1 Hewick 16-1
2 Musical Slave 5-1
3 Kitty's Light 4-1f
4.07
1 McFabulous 4-1
4.40
1 Up The Straight 9-2
2 Jacamar 7-1
5.15
1 Samarrive 100-30
2 Kamaxos 5-1
3 Call Me Lord 7-1
