Another Irish trainer could take advantage of an open King George VI Chase at Kempton Park with ‘Shark’ Hanlon debating a trip to the UK with Hewick.

The gelding is no stranger to international travel, having won the American Grand National and placed fourth in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil in France. 

Hewick fell two out in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup and a trip to Prestbury Park appears to be on the radar again, following a successful outing over the Christmas period.

"He's entered in the King George which looks a possibility at the minute," Hanlon said.

"A lot will depend on the ground and with the weather the way it is at the minute, if we don't have goodish ground I won't run him. He wants good ground.

"We're after getting a month of rain in the last fortnight and meetings are still being called off in England this week.

"If the ground is anywhere near good at Kempton he will go to Kempton. With the results over there in the last couple of weeks you would have to think he would have a real chance.

"He's in real good form and we're kind of training him for a Gold Cup, that's the plan," added Hanlon.

"He ran very well in it last year and he will go fresh to it this year. He will probably only have one run before he goes and I would love to go to Kempton, but we're kind of dependent on the ground and it is the same with Leopardstown, wherever the ground is best he will go.

"We'll put him away then and have a crack at the big one."