King George VI Chase: Hewick comes through late to claim dramatic victory
- Published
Hewick had disappointed last time out in the Galway Plate
Hewick came from last to first late on to win a dramatic King George VI Chase at Kempton.
The 12-1 chance, ridden by Gavin Sheehan, had looked out of contention as Shishkin, Bravemansgame and Allaho pulled well clear.
Shishkin slipped after the second last, unseating jockey Nico de Boinville, leaving the other two in control.
Just as Bravemansgame and Allaho looked like battling it out, Hewick came through strongly to grab victory.
"If it wasn't a King George, I probably would have pulled him up," Sheehan told ITV Racing.
"He stays and stays. He is a small horse but he has the biggest heart. To come here and do that is amazing."
Hewick, who cost just £800, has won the Galway Plate and American Grand National, but with regular pilot Jordan Gainford injured and Rachael Blackmore in action at Leopardstown, trainer Shark Hanlon opted for the in-form Sheehan.
Hanlon said: "It's unreal. I said to Gavin, 'Listen, he will stay all day', but they went very hard and he just couldn't lay up with them.
"On a tougher track it will be a better job for him, but we are here today and he won which is amazing.
"Coming out of the back I thought we'd definitely be in the first three because he was just getting into a rhythm and just getting going. They were going plenty hard in front.
"We knew coming here there were three or four front-runners and if we were able to lay up with them we'd be happy.
"Straight to Cheltenham now. It's probably the wrong race as he should go for the English National but there is only one Gold Cup."
Earlier at Kempton, Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill claimed an easy triumph in the Christmas Hurdle on his seasonal reappearance.
The six-year-old was due to return at Newcastle earlier this month before the meeting was called off because of bad weather, but the extended wait was worth it.
The 1-12 favourite enjoyed a comfortable nine-and-a-half-length win to stay on track to retain his Cheltenham crown in March.
Earlier, Il Est Francais put up a sparkling jumping display to win the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on his British debut.
Paul Nicholls' Hermes Allen briefly looked a threat before a response came from Il Est Francais, who is trained in France by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, and he soon opened up a distance between them again and in the end won by 11 lengths.
"He is a horse with so many different options," said George.
"A French Gold Cup then a King George here next year is very much what we would be thinking, but whether we go to Cheltenham we would have to see."