Hewick fared best of the five Irish runners in Saturday's Grande Course des Haies (French Champion Hurdle) at Auteuil when finishing a close second behind the locally-trained winner Losange Bleu.
Losange Bleu does enough!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 18, 2024
Hard lines for Hewick in the French Champion hurdle as Dominique Bressou's five-year-old hangs on for victory in a thrilling finish... pic.twitter.com/5YgV2XweHs
Ridden by Jordan Gainford, Shark Hanlon's charge was never far off the pace and had every chance at the final obstacle, racing on the stands' rail.
However, Losange Bleu - racing up the centre of the track - had been in front from halfway and had enough in reserve to hold Hewick by about a length.
John O'Connell's Mahler Mission was not beaten far in fourth place while Gordon Elliott's Irish Point was the disappointment of the race, finishing seventh under Mark Walsh.
The winner is a five-year-old by Martaline. Trained by Dominique Bressou, he was ridden by Johnny Charron. In his two previous races he had defeated the five-year-old mare July Flower who finished third today.
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