I buy cheap horses and transform them into money-making machines – you’ll have a hell of a party if I win at Cheltenham

“JUST hold on a minute lads will ya, I’ve got to take this.”

Nothing, not even a throng of around 30 British and Irish media, will get in the way of Shark Hanlon’s wheeling and dealing.

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Shark Hanlon is dreaming of Gold Cup glory with Hewick[/caption]

He turns away with a glint in his eye and works his charm on whoever is on the other end of the phone.

Whether he’s negotiating a good deal on a horse or a new tractor is open to question.

One thing is for sure, the larger than life trainer loves a bargain and he has become something of an expert in that field over the years.

First he had Skyace, the mare who cost £600 and ended up winning a Grade 1 hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Then, of course, came Hewick, the pint-sized nine-year-old who nobody wanted, so Shark picked him up for £800.

A King George VI Chase, Galway Plate and American Grand National later, fair to say old Hewick was a snip.

It just shows with a good eye and a bit of luck, you can take on jump racing’s big boys and beat them.

But it’s undoubtedly becoming more difficult for the smaller yards, particularly in Ireland, when Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have such a stranglehold on the game.

Phone call done, Shark wants to get something off his chest.

He said: “It’s a big problem in Ireland, and the English can see it as well when Willie is even sending Fun Fun Fun over to win a race at Exeter on a Sunday, he wins everything.

“He has the owners with the deepest pockets, and if a good horse comes up for sale tomorrow morning, he’s gone to Willie.

“Fair dues to him, he started with nothing and now has the men to buy them, but I think England and Ireland are feeling the pinch.

“I’ve nothing against Willie or Gordon or anyone, but I think the smaller people in the game need looking after.

“Because if you haven’t got the smaller lads then you are going to have races every week with five runners from a few yards and people will get bored.

“At the Dublin Racing Festival, without the two big handicaps there wouldn’t have been 30 runners on either day.

“The two big handicaps were full and there was more excitement over the handicaps than there was over the Grade 1s. It’s impossible to compete at that level.

“I tell you, if it wasn’t for the cost of travelling horses over to England, then I would run horses over there every week.

“You can say I’m running away from Willie, I don’t care, but there is a better chance of winning in England.

“Something needs to be done, whether that means running meetings for trainers who only have a certain number of horses or winners, but a lot of people are struggling.”

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Hewick won the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day[/caption]

Even a big winner doesn’t equate to an influx of new owners.
In the aftermath of Hewick’s win at Kempton on Boxing Day, Hanlon was sent two new recruits, taking his tally up to around 40, but it’s gone quiet since.

But at least he has a horse who can take him to the top table and not only hold his own but give the big boys a bloody nose.

And if he wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup, there is a good chance his phone will be ringing off the hook.

It’s not beyond the realms of possibility, either, given the way his stable star stayed on relentlessly in the King George to beat Bravemansgame and Allaho, a day Hanlon will never forget.

He grinned: “It was amazing, the best Christmas present you could ever ask for. A lot of people say Shishkin would have won if he stood up but you just have to look at the way our horse finished, I think there is a good chance he would have won anyway.

“We didn’t get too have too much of a celebration after as we headed straight to get the ferry, but if he wins in Cheltenham we’ll make the most of it, you know we will.”

Of course, Hewick is partial to joining the party himself. The trainer caused a stir when taking the horse into his local pub, The Pint Depot, and letting him have a slurp of his Guinness after his big win in the USA in 2022.

The Gold Cup will demand another step forward from Hewick, especially with defending champ Galopin Des Champs in the line-up.

But if the ground dries out, Shark reckons that will level the playing field.

He said: “It is beginning to get exciting times and I love to see that sun coming out, which I want to see in England more at the minute than I want to see over here.

“Galopin Des Champs is a very good horse and he’s won on soft ground a couple of times this year and has looked very good on it.

“But I would love to meet him on good ground. Maybe if he is as good then he will win, but I just think on proper good ground, he might not be as good as he is on soft and heavy ground.

“The horse came out of the King George very well. He did a bit of work in Naas on Wednesday in a schooling bumper and that’s the route we went down before the King George.

“He is Jordan Gainford’s ride, but we aren’t sure whether he will be fit in time for Cheltenham so I have Gavin Sheehan ready to go just in case.

“You can never be afraid of one horse and we certainly aren’t. I genuinely believe if he gets his conditions he will be right there at the finish. And if he wins, you’ll have one hell of a party on your hands.”

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