John 'Shark' Hanlon has confirmed that Hewick will not race in Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup and will instead be saved for next month's Grand National.
Revealing the news on X (formerly Twitter), Shark wrote: "After walking the track this morning, we have decided Hewick will not run in the Gold Cup tomorrow While this is disappointing but we are doing what’s best for the horse."
ITV's Ed Chamberlain shed more light on the decision and said that Hanlon felt the ground was too soft for Hewick to race on and that they would be targeting the Aintree Grand National instead.
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Hewick's withdrawal is another big blow for the Gold Cup, with Nicky Henderson's Shishkin already ruled out as a bug plagues the Seven Barrows stable.
The €850 horse is no stranger to the big occasion and took home a huge win in the King George VI Chase at Christmas.
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