Grand National: Cork's Gavin Sheehan and Hewick can deliver in biggest race of them all

Dunmanway's Gavin Sheehan and Hewick are reunited again and look set for a huge run at the Aintree Grand National on Saturday. 

The most famous steeplechase in the world is never short of drama and there has been plenty of market support for the admirable Hewick. Bought for £800 by his flamboyant trainer ‘Shark’ Hanlon this horse has already won a Galway Plate as well as a never-to-be-forgotten King George under Sheehan over Christmas at Kempton Park in 2023. 

Of course, there are dangers everywhere and luck in running plays a massive part in the outcome of this brilliant race.

Defending champion I Am Maximus and Paul Townend are sure to run well despite carrying top weight while the Gavin Cromwell trio of Perceval Legallois, Vanillier and Stumptown are all very prominent in the betting. 

The latter was an impressive winner of the cross country race at Cheltenham recently for a trainer very much in form. 

Perceval Legallois has already won two big handicaps this winter at Leopardstown and more significantly Mark Walsh has decided to ride this horse. Walsh has the choice of all the JP McManus runners and the Gold Cup-winning jockey rarely gets it wrong.

The Grand National is the ultimate test in jump racing where so much can go wrong and a horse has to take to the fences here. 

Tiger Roll, who famously won the race twice for Davy Russell, certainly didn’t fit the profile of a Grand National winner as a former Triumph Hurdle winner. 

Nevertheless, Tiger Roll just took to Aintree and gave the brilliant Youghal rider a couple of his greatest days in the sport.

Hewick, is a leading fancy for Saturday’s Grand National following recent market support and his larger-than-life trainer has talked up his horse in the build-up to the race. 

Connections warmed up for the race with a win over hurdles at Thurles last month and kept him fresh for this which ruled out the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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Jockey Gavin Sheehan, who is enjoying his best season, will be reunited with Hewick for the first time since their stunning victory in the King George. Sheehan is one of the best in the business and has already ridden 95 winners this season.

“I suppose I was hoping to get the call. Ever since I won the King George on Hewick, Shark said he wanted to go for the Grand National. He didn’t end up going for it that year, but it’s brilliant to be giving it a go this year," Sheehan said.

“The only time I’ve sat on him was in the King George! I was going to head over and school him over the National fences in the Curragh, but Shark got Jody McGarvey to school him over there and he said he was very good and straightforward over them, so there was no need for me to go over and school him.

“Hopefully, the big field and the occasion will bring him forward. They went very quick that day in the King George and his stamina came through, and there’s no doubt they’ll go quick in the National. 

He’ll need a bit of luck, but so will they all.” 

Other horses that will attract local interest is the Jonjo O’Neill Jr. mount Iroko who is trained by the jockey's brother and father. 

This horse has been laid out for the race and is another running in the famed green and gold silks of JP McManus. 

Johnny Burke is another one of the Cork brigade riding at the highest level across the water but interestingly will take the ride on Minella Cocooner, who is trained by Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins. 

The son of Flemensfirth has made steady progress in recent seasons culminating in victory over three and a half miles at Sandown last spring. Burke will be thrilled to get this ride and looks to have an excellent each/way chance.

Finally, there is also terrific action across the final day of the meeting with all eyes on Joe Donnelly’s Lulamba, who was just mugged on the line in a thrilling Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

This exciting juvenile looks set to be a real star next season and should collect tomorrow.