Hewick was purchased for just €850 before going on to win the King George VI Chase when trained by John "Shark" Hanlon at Kempton two years ago.
Now in the care of Tara Lee Cogan, the ten-year-old will be targeting more success at this season’s spring festivals.
Hewick holds entries in the Stayers’ Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, as well as the Grand National at Aintree, and the son of Virtual is likely to take up two of those engagements should he get his beloved good ground.
Name: Hewick |
Age: 10 |
Weight: 11-10 |
Trainer: Tara Lee Cogan |
Winnings: £745,494 |
Cheltenham Festival wins: Zero |
Runs | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
41 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
Hewick is a ten-year-old who made his debut at Tramore in 2019, finishing fifth in a Maiden Hurdle contest.
Hewick last raced off a weight of 11st 10lbs in the level weights Irish Gold Cup Grade 1 at Leopardstown.
The ten-year-old carried 11st 12lbs when attempting to win the Galway Plate for the second time two years ago and a similar burden would be placed on Cogan’s charge should he return to handicap company.
Since making his debut in 2019, Hewick has competed in 41 races under rules.
He raced over hurdles on 24 occasions, with 17 efforts coming over the larger obstacles.
From his 41 runs under rules, he has 10 wins and has been a model of consistency with a further 10 placed efforts.
Connections have entered Hewick into the two biggest National Hunt races of the season, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National, as well as the Stayers Hurdle.
However, Hewick has previously been scratched from Gold Cup and Grand National engagements on account of the ground and favoured fast conditions are a must for the ten-year-old.
Hewick is owned by TJ McDonald, an Irish farmer who has enjoyed a remarkable journey since he got involved in horse racing.
McDonald purchased his runner for just €850 and he has repaid every penny and then some after a remarkable career, with the ten-year-old still having plenty of miles left on the clock.
Hewick is now in the care of Tara Lee Cogan, who has trained the ten-year-old since December.
The King George hero was previously based with John Hanlon, better known as "Shark", who trained Hewick when making his debut in 2019 and he enjoyed some incredible success, winning the American Grand National and the King George.
Hewick's official rating as a chaser is 161 and he has earned a mark of 154 over hurdles.
The ten-year-old has been rated as high as 170 in the past and the son of Virtual continues to contest graded races.
Hewick is now running off his lowest chase mark since he won the Galway Plate off 155 in 2022, but there are no signs of him returning to handicap company.
Hewick's connections have banked over £745,494 in total prize money so far and the majority of that has come from his wins in the King George and the American Grand National.
He has won £562,716 from his 10 wins, with over £130,000 of that coming from his high-profile victory in the States, while the King George success saw connections pocket £143,045.
Hewick has raced four times this season, with the ten-year-old opening the season with a third place in the BetVictor Chase at Punchestown.
A fine second in the Champion Chase at Down Royal followed, but Hewick was then off the track for 56 days while the ten-year-old switched trainer from Hanlon to Cogan.
Hewick has returned under new guidance to finish down the field in the Savills Hurdle and the Irish Gold Cup, both run at Leopardstown.