Hewick will have his entire campaign geared around a trip to Cheltenham next March. © Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Shark Hanlon has been outlining plans for stable star Hewick following his below par run in Wednesdays Galway Plate.
The eight-year-old was unable to repeat last years heroics in the feature race of the week but ground conditions played a large part in his disappointing performance.
Shark Hanlon said: "The ground was too soft for Hewick but he is right form, has gone back to his owner now for a month and we'll make a plan then."
While the Kerry National is unlikely to be a target this autumn, a return trip to Far Hills in the USA in October is very much in his sights. Long term, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the ultimate ambition.
"I'm not going to go for the Kerry National as he'd have to give away a lot of weight. I'm going to go back to America (for the American Grand National) and am going to plan from the Cheltenham Gold Cup back," added the Carlow trainer.
"He ran a cracker at Cheltenham last year but maybe we didn't go the right direction to it, so this year we'll give him a run beforehand at Leopardstown in February."
