SHARK Halon has landed a big gamble at Worcester in what was a first winning ride for the cult hero trainer’s son Paddy — on only his second ever ride in a race under rules.
Young amateur Paddy (16) has only had his jockey’s licence for seven days and partnered Chef D'Etat to win the Richard Newland Racing National Hunt Flat Race.
The four-year-old was sent-off the 4/6 favourite having been the subject of strong market support all afternoon.
“It’s amazing, he travelled beautifully for me,” said Paddy, who rode his first horse under rules, Pahlavi, also for his dad at Leopardstown last Thursday.
Paddy has become well known to jump racing fans for his association with Hewick, a horse he rides out at home and leads up regularly at the races.
Hewick has been a sensation for Shark, winning the American Grand National and Galway Plate last year, and earning over half a million euro in prize-money.
Hanlon junior has also been a star of the pony racing circuit in recent times and won the prestigious Dingle Derby last year on The Auld Horse in the colours of Hewick.
He ended his career in that sphere just last Sunday week with two winners in Ballybunion.
He was close friends with the late Jack De Bromhead, who sadly lost his life after a pony racing fall in Kerry last September.
Shark famously bought Hewick for only £850 and Chef D'Etat, who was unraced for Richard Hannon and cost just £2,500, caused a 33/1-shock having when landing 10-runner bumper at Tramore on his last start.
"He gave it a peach, he stayed patient and stayed sitting and went down the inside, he gave it a lovely ride, so he did," said Shark.
"He's actually done a lot of pony racing, he won the Dingle Derby last year and that stands to him, pony racing means so much - around Ireland and England there should be a lot more of it.
The winning rider told Sky Sports Racing: "He travelled beautifully for me, we got a gap up the rail and he got going. I feel so sorry for Taylor, she was supposed to ride but couldn't get here.
"He travelled beautiful for me, when we turned in I knew we didn't need to go quick straight away. He kept at it to the line to be fair and he's a nice horse.
He added: "This beats anything in pony racing and I'd just like to thank everyone involved for letting me ride."
