Hewick, winner of last year's Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, will not be defending his title. Instead, he will run in the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 28.
Hewick is set to run over hurdles at Leopardstown after not being declared for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day. The €850 horse won the Kempton showpiece 12 months ago when keeping on well to get the better of Bravemansgame and Allaho. However, connections have opted not to send him across the Irish Sea to defend his crown.
The nine-year-old gelding is instead expected to line up in the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 28 for Tara Lee Cogan, who has taken over the running of Shark Hanlon's County Carlow stable while the trainer serves a six-month suspension. Grey Dawning, Il Est Francais and Spillane’s Tower are among 11 runners declared for the King George. Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, winner of the Turners Novices’ Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, looks the pick of the home team after being touched off by Haydock specialist Royale Pagaille in last month’s Betfair Chase. Il Est Francais, trained in France by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, was sublime in landing the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over the King George course and distance 12 months ago, and merits huge respect despite being pulled up at Auteuil last time out. Il Est Francais is joined by stablemate General En Chef, who ran with credit when fourth on his British debut in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, with David Cottin’s supplemented contender Juntos Ganamos also hoping to become the first French-trained winner of the King George since First Gold in 2000. A formidable Irish contingent is headed by Spillane’s Tower, a dual Grade One-winning novice for Jimmy Mangan last season and narrowly denied by fellow JP McManus-owned rising star Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown a month ago. Despite concerns about drying ground, Spillane’s Tower (Mark Walsh) was added to the King George field last wee
Hewick King George VI Chase Leopardstown Savills Hurdle Horse Racing
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