Irish raider Hewick (6/5 favourite) made a successful return to Sandown Park on Saturday with victory in the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase.

A year ago the eight year old was triumphant in the bet365 Gold Cup on the same card and his proven stamina came to the fore in todays extended two miles and six furlongs event.

Partnered by Rachael Blackmore, Hewick led until a mistake down the back straight appeared to halter his momentum. However he got going once again and after joining First Flow at the last stayed on strongly to win by four lengths.

Winning trainer Shark Hanlon said: “It is lovely. I’m thinking the whole time should have I gone for the be365 Gold Cup but just with the fall he got at Cheltenham I thought this was the right thing to do for the horse to give him a confidence boost. His season is only starting because he is a summer horse. I just wanted to make sure that he got around safe. Rachael (Blackmore, jockey) was absolutely brilliant as she always is. I’m very sorry for Jordan (Gainford, jockey) that he is not here as he has made the horse for us. He will be back, and Rachael knows he will be back but until he does come back we have a great sub.

“He always comes off the bridle. There is no race he has ever ran in that he didn’t come off the bridle. He came off the bridle at Cheltenham but Jordan said three strides before the fence he was coming back on the bridle again. There is one thing we know about him is that he would have come up the hill. I don’t know if we were good enough to beat Willie’s (Mullins horse Galopin Des Champs) but we would have been knocking on the door for second or third.

“He is back here today in front of a great crowd and on a lovely track. The ground was a little bit soft for him, but there is nothing that can be done about that. This morning I came across on the flight and I said that I was glad I had him in this race not the bet365 Gold Cup because of the ground being that little bit softer. He got home a little bit quicker than I got off our Aer Lingus flight today as we were delayed by four hours from Dublin and I thought we would never get here. But we are here but it may take us four hours to get home now.

“He stays and stays and Rachael is so good at thinking. When he made his mistake she took him back and filled himself up and the next thing he came back on the bridle again. That is what is he does. He is a miracle horse. He has been some horse for me.

“I’ve something planned but I’m not going to say it yet. You will see it in time. I’ve a plan going out for him in six weeks’ time. It won’t be in England or Ireland. He will have to go back to America but we might go somewhere else with him.

“Have horse, will travel.”

Rachael Blackmore told ITV Racing: “It’s great to be here and it’s great to be back teaming up with Shark for another winner. He was so good to me in the early part of my career and is the reason why I am riding as a professional today.

“It was brilliant to get to team up with this lad today as it is Jordan Gainford who should be sitting here. He is out of action at the moment and I am just subbing in for him.

“It’s an incredible story with this horse and incredible what Shark, Jordan and the owners have done with him by bringing him along.

“I am just delighted they asked me to ride him today.”

Kim Bailey, trainer of the runner-up First Flow (10-1), commented: “It was an unbelievable run. I’ve always maintained that he will stay and it’s been a long battle to get my way but he’s stayed today – he’s just got outstayed by a very good horse.

“In a handicap we’d be getting weight off him, so I’m absolutely thrilled. He’s shown he still has all the enthusiasm and loved every moment of it. He’s jumped better than I’ve ever seen him jump so all in all I couldn’t be more pleased.

“I don’t know about what we’ll do moving forward. Sadly, his owner (Tony Solomons) won’t know he’s running. His daughter is in charge and she’s not interested in racing so I’m not sure what’s happening to be perfectly honest.”

Nico de Boinville, jockey of the third placed Fantastic Lady (13/2) said: “It was a great run, she’s given a very good account of herself.”