AN emotional John ‘Shark’ Hanlon dedicated the brilliant win by his horse Hewick at the American Grand National win in Far Hills this evening to the recently deceased Jack De Bromhead.

Jockey Jordan Gainford is draped in the Irish flag after Hewick’s stunning win in the American Grand National

Jack, son of trainer Henry, tragically lost his life last month while pony racing on Rossbeigh Beach in Kerry. It was something close to Hanlon’s heart as his own son Paddy regularly raced alongside Jack in pony races around the country.

“There was an accident in Ireland a couple of months ago with Jack De Bromhead, and we are thinking of him. My young lad leads up the horses, he was his best friend, he cried there, and this is for Jack,” said Hanlon.

The horse, spotted and bought for just €800, travelled well throughout and moved to the front with perfect timing under regular jockey Jordan Gainford with two fences to go and won in hugely impressive style.

Hewick had already won over €300,000 in prize money before this race and this sends his earnings well over the half million mark.

Shark Hanlon had suggested in the build up to the race that Hewick could well rest up throughout the winter and come back in time for next year’s Cheltenham Festival and the manner of this performance is sure to have the horse mentioned as a potential Gold Cup winner.

The race ended in a 1-2-3 for Irish horses with Noah And the Ark in second and local jockey Danny Mullins third on Ask Paddington.