Meet the Guinness-drinking horse backed to win the Grand National after being bought for just £850
A GUINNESS-DRINKING horse bought for just £850 is being backed to win the Grand National – and become a millionaire in the process.
‘People’s horse’ Hewick, who is trained by man mountain Irish handler Shark Hanlon, is a fan favourite wherever he goes.
Pint-sized but with a massive heart, Hewick has already won one of the most prestigious races in the calendar in the King George.
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But he would take his fame to stratospheric levels if he can achieve the Holy Grail and land the £1million Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
Part of what makes Hewick so great, apart from his slick jumping and ability to act perfectly on good ground, is his lovable nature.
He’s already won the American Grand National.
The US version is a pale imitation of our treasured race, but after winning it Shark took Hewick down to his local for a drop of the black stuff.
It says it all about racing in Ireland that some locals barely batted an eyelid having a thoroughbred trot round their local.
But the video turned Hewick into a hero – much like when he watched Galopin Des Champs win the 2024 Gold Cup from his stable.
https://twitter.com/jhanlonracing/status/1768696916483727786Hewick was meant to run that year but was pulled out ahead of an abortive attempt to run in the Grand National.
Some 12 months on, though, the 10-year-old is back and looking to smash the £1million mark in earnings.
Spare a thought for previous owner Rachel O’Neill, who originally purchased Hewick for the measly fee at Goresbridge sales in Ireland in October 2017.
Hewick ran in three point-to-points after that, falling twice and unseating his rider once.
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O’Neill watched her pride and joy race twice under rules but he displayed nothing of the sort of superstar quality he would later show.
She sold Hewick to current owner T J McDonald in May 2019 but it wasn’t until around 18 months later that the horse got his first win.
What followed next was nothing short of incredible.
Hewick absolutely rocketed up the racing ranks and reached the pinnacle of the sport with his King George win on Boxing Day 2023.
Grand National odds
11-2 I Am Maximus
8-1 Stumptown
15-2 Iroko
17-2 Hewick
9-1 Perceval Legallois
10-1 Vanillier
12-1 Intense Raffles
14-1 Minella Cocooner
16-1 Hyland, Kandoo Kid
20-1 bar
Seemingly out of it, Hewick showed his grit and determination to come from last to win the £140,000 first-place prize with ease.
He hasn’t run all that much since but has hardly finished out the places when he has and has been primed for Aintree by Shark.
The handler said: “Everything has been absolutely A1 with Hewick so far.
“The weather forecast looks ideal, the better the ground the better we think he’ll run.
“He stays, he has class, he ticks all the boxes you need in a National horse and I can’t wait to see how it goes on Saturday.”
Hewick is as short as 17-2 with some bookies, behind 11-1 defending champ I Am Maximus.
There’s been a Guinness shortage lately – expect another should Hewick win the Grand National.
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