Tanya Stevenson: Hewick’s King George Heroics Make Him A Tempting Gold Cup Play
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We have asked Tanya Stevenson, a hugely respected figure in the world of horse racing to give us the inside track when it comes to which ante-post bets you should be keeping an eye on.
Tanya’s unparalleled insights and expertise made her a key figure on Channel 4’s racing coverage for many years and she is known worldwide for her vast betting knowledge on the sport.
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A Shark can appear from nowhere when hunting, and Mr Hanlon’s Hewick certainly did that in a captivating King George, a Christmas delight which will be remembered for a very long time. So, so uplifting, continuing to prove that racing makes the improbable, possible.
It’s rare enough to see the ‘David v Goliath’ story, but Hewick does it on repeat. Bring on Cheltenham, I’m with Shark, just bring it on.
The King George because of Kempton’s configuration is generally bereft of a roll of honour with dour stayers. There are greats of course, and they reside in a different echelon. Hewick is a category all of his own.
This odd ball adds a unique ingredient to any race. He had a superb 2022 winning the Bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and US Grand National at Far Hills.
Fate robbed him of a big run in the Gold Cup in March, in hindsight who knows what might have happened, had he not have fallen two out, on his King George performance.
But seeing the Gold Cup quotes flow in as he walked back into the Kempton winner's enclosure, I started to go through the likely runners who might line up against him. He already has the beating of most as proof from the King George.
Now the Savills Chase may well be the best ever seen, but there can only be one winner who will be by default favourite for the Gold Cup and the second will deserve second favourite quote, but does that make Hewick double figures? I think not.
The odds offered on betting sites for Hewick might not last long but currently each-way he is massive value. He will stay and he is already now in racing folklore, but he hasn’t had his happy ever after yet.
Kempton had deflected attention from a busy Boxing Day with 69 races. However, there are some gems that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Aintree’s Grade 1 Formby Novice Hurdle unravelled into a huge Festival pointer. Farren Glory had passed on a few entries at Leopardstown and chose to come Liverpool. What a lovely horse and a bit of a grinder who toughs it out.
He was already a Grade 1 winner having won the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. And the plan seemed to be working to perfection as he approached the second last on the bridle, then disaster, he took a crashing fall we’ll never know where he would have finished.
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I just hope he is none the worse for those exploits and he will be fine come March. He is one I had my eye on for the Supreme or the Ballymore. No doubt Gordon will have a dearth of runners to pick from for each, but I think you can still have more than four.
And just a heads up the Royal Bond Novices Hurdle which Farren Glory has already won produced the likes of 1996 Istabraq, 1999 Moscow Flyer, 2001 Like-A-Butterfly, 2002 Hardy Eustace, 2008 Hurricane Fly, 2012 Jetki, 2019 Envoi Allen and last year Marine Nationale!
Jango Baie was well touted on his debut at Ascot only to be rattled by Tellherthename, that rival then went on to win at Huntingdon by 14 lengths. The rematch was set at Aintree with Farren Glory and a few other unexposed types thrown in.
Jango Baie was a huge drifter in the market on betting apps, as short as 3/1 overnight and in the morning to an SP of 17/2. That in itself was a massive concern to his chances, but fear not because as Farren Glory fell Jango Baie had lazily, yet steadily come into the race.
He won going away and the further they went James Bowen didn’t seem so urgent. Nicky Henderson has five Supreme’s on his mantelpiece, and I know he has Willmount. Jango Baie is tough, durable and probably still value like Farren Glory for either the Supreme or Ballymore.
I like the pair against the field or I might be lucky enough to have one in each race.
Vive La France, for they may walk away with two prizes at Cheltenham, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday.
I’m already with Apple Away for the Brown Advisory but Il Est Francais’ performance at Kempton in the Kauto Star Novices Chase will resonate for some time. His jumping was breathtaking and he gained distance at each obstacle.
James Reveley was afforded the luxury of being able to give him a breather three from home when suddenly Hermes Allen looked a danger again.
That was only temporary for a couple of strides, as soon as the lungs filled again off he went taking dead aim at Cheltenham.
My one concern would be the undulations at Cheltenham which may catch him out, I would prefer him at Aintree.
Theleme’s Cheltenham chances just have not been touted enough, he is a must for consideration for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
In March, he defeated Il Est Francais by 10 lengths at Auteuil. In May he defeated Klassical Dream by nine lengths and Hewick by 14 lengths with Flooring Porter languishing even further behind, so the form has worked out supremely well.
He is British-owned and the belief is that Cheltenham is the target. Yet there has barely been a murmur about him.
He has won five Grade 1s in France and seems to get better with every run. The one issue is that he might need soft ground which we don’t seem to get at the Festival now.
The last French winner of the Stayers was Baracouda 20 years ago. But, Arnaud Chaille-Chaille has had a winner at the course Ambobo beating Brewster in 2005.
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