John 'Shark' Hanlon: Hewick deserves Aintree National top-weight allocation

John 'Shark' Hanlon concedes King George hero Hewick is a worthy top-weight for this year's Randox Grand National at Aintree.

The last-gasp Kempton winner has been handed 11st 12lb for the 13 April spectacular, putting him at the top of the 87 contenders for the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile contest.

A Cheltenham Gold Cup date awaits next month first, however, with Hanlon dreaming of a big-race hat-trick in the crown jewels of the staying chase calendar.

He said: "I knew he'd have top-weight. You have to expect that. He probably deserves top-weight.

"I think the trip will suit him. He's going for the Gold Cup first and please God he comes out of the Gold Cup safe and if he does he'll definitely head there (to Aintree).

"It's a mighty day. It's one of those days you look forward to all year. The National, the Gold Cup and the King George at Kempton - they're the three big days in England aren't they, so it's great to have a runner there."

While Hewick - who is one of 56 Irish-trained possibles - has proven himself at Grade One level and numbers the American Grand National on his CV, he is no stranger to major handicaps, with the €850 purchase having prevailed off 11st 7lb in the 2022 Galway Plate after also landing the bet365 Gold Cupat Sandown off 3lb less.

Hanlon feels conditions rather than weights are key for his contender, with the revised safety limit of 34 meaning there is just 20lb between Hewick and those who would be at the bottom of the field, with Latenightpass, Minella Crooner and Run Wild Fred all sitting on 10st 6lb.

He added: "The most important thing is that he gets good ground. With fewer runners in the race this year, there won't be quite as much weight between us and the horses at the bottom. In previous