Cork jockey Gavin Sheehan lands Hewick ride in Grand National
Jockey Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Hewick. Picture: PA.
The Aintree Grand National Festival is looming large and promises three thrilling days of racing action on Merseyside starting on Thursday with the Grand National taking place on Saturday afternoon.
Following a thrilling Cheltenham the focus now switches to the second major spring jumps meeting with huge Irish interest in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Connections of the leading fancies have made a number of interesting jockey bookings this week with Dunmanway’s Gavin Sheehan landing the plum ride on Hewick, who is a leading fancy for the race.
Confirming the news Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon revealed the Cork jockey will be reunited with Hewick for the most famous race in jump racing. Sheehan famously won the King George aboard Hewick at Kempton Park back in 2023 and is one of most talented riders in national hunt racing.
Both Gavin Sheehan and usual rider Jordan Gainford were in the mix, but after conversations with Hewick’s owner TJ McDonald, connections have decided on the added experience of Sheehan who will be thrilled.
“We’ve just decided that Gavin Sheehan rides and we’ve gone for the older head. It’s nothing against Jordan at all and he will be back on him in time, but we had to make a decision and be fair to everyone and make the call in plenty of time," Hanlon said.
“Gavin is always there on the big day and is very good and has won on him before and knows him – he’s lots of experience on the big days.
"But at the same time Jordan is very good, has won him before and knows him so it was a tough call.
"But I’ve just spoken to the owner and this is what we’ve decided.”
The Grand National is such a special race and every jockey likes to win the big one.
Leading amateur Patrick Mullins is another eyeing up his options. Paul Townend is the defending champion and will be staying loyal to last year's winner I Am Maximus. But champion trainer Willie Mullins has a number of high-profile entries including the Thyestes Chase winner Nick Rockett.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old is a major contender for the world’s most famous steeplechase following winter wins in the Thyestes at Gowran Park and the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
“I’d imagine Paul will ride I Am Maximus and then we have got a good few other there. Danny (Mullins) has often ridden Minella Cocooner and won the bet365 Gold Cup on him, Brian Hayes got a good spin with Grangeclare West in the Irish Gold Cup (finished second to Galopin Des Champs), so I am going to put my name in the hat for Nick Rockett," Patrick Mullins said.
"You want to be clever and Tiger Roll was small. Whether he takes to it or not, you don’t know, but I think he’d be a fantastic ride.”
The Champion Hurdle was one of the most dramatic races at this year’s festival with Golden Ace a shock 25/1 winner.
There was the shock fall of Constitution Hill as well as the final hurdle drama and departure of State Man for the Donnellys and Paul Townend.
But the absence of Lossiemouth proved a major talking point as the mare romped to victory in the Mares Hurdle which preceded the Champion Hurdle.
The Aintree Hurdle is run over the exact same trip and it looks like we could have a real cracker on our hands.
How many runners Mullins will field in the supporting races at Aintree next week remains to be seen, but one Closutton star who could be part of the raiding party is top-class mare Lossiemouth.
“I think we’d have to consider it. Entries are later this week and she seems to have come out of Cheltenham well. Annie Power went there and put in probably her signature performance in that race and Lossiemouth won the Hatton’s Grace over two and a half earlier in the season at Fairyhouse.”
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