French Champion Hurdle next on the agenda for Hewick

Hewick will head to the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil next Saturday with John 'Shark' Hanlon keen for his chasing star to continue his globetrotting exploits.

Last season's winner of the Galway Plate, American Grand National and Oaksey Chase at Sandown, the eight-year-old will line up in the Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil next weekend with Rachael Blackmore continuing to deputise for Jordan Gainford.

Trainer Hanlon is hopeful he will make the cut for the three-and-a-quarter-mile race.

He said: "We are going to Auteuil. I think the race suits him. He will stay all day, so the trip won't be any problem and the fences are like the hurdles in America.

"The only reason I don't run him on soft ground over fences is that the fences look so big for a small horse and it is hard to get out of the ground.

"Hopefully he will get in. There are 20 entries. I should imagine we'll be OK, as a few might come out and they ran 13 in the race two years ago.

"The pot is €390,000. That's the reason we are going there and the reason we went to America - because of the pot.

"It is lovely to have winners in Ireland and England, but when you have a horse like him, you try to make the best use of him you can."

Having been bought by Hanlon for a bargain €850, the TJ McDonald-owned Hewick has picked up almost €440,000 in prize money, having shot to prominence when taking the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last April.

Though a faller when in contention for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a return to Prestbury Park is on the cards in 2024 and Hanlon hinted a trip to Japan for the Nakayama Grand Jump is a possible target next April.

Hanlon said: "Nakayama could be on the agenda for next year. You don't mind travelling because he is a very good traveller.

"So