Trainer Shark Hanlon has announced that top-weight Hewick is likely to instead run in the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl as opposed to the Grand National at Liverpool’s big race meeting next month. The King George hero missed out on a second tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup through injury, an absence which has led to a rethink about his future prospects this season.
Given a mark of 169 by the British handicapper when the Grand National weights were announced in February, Hewick had been set to shoulder a burden of 11st 12lb. With his prospective absence, the weights will shift up 3lb, with Conflated, in the Gigginstown colours carried to success twice by Tiger Roll, now set to head the 34 runners.
This could have repercussions for the chances of defending champion Corach Rambler, who would now be carrying 11st 5lb in his quest to emulate Tiger Roll amongst others. Lucinda Russell’s ten-year-old was a fine third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and would still be receiving weight from five rivals should those above him, Hewick aside, be declared.
The defection of the top-weight also ensures that Adamantly Chosen will be guaranteed a place in the field should connections decide to go for the race. Willie Mullins’ charge was an impressive winner at Down Royal over 3m2f the weekend after the Cheltenham Festival and was well-backed for the National as a result.
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