Hewick was bought as a two-year-old at Goresbridge Sales for €850 (about £800) and went into training with John Joseph "Shark" Hanlon at his County Carlow yard.
In April 2022, ridden by conditional jockey Jordan Gainford and starting as a 16/1 outsider, he won the Grade 3 Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, beating Musical Slave and favourite Kitty's Light by eight lengths.
Hewick and Gainford, who had by this time lost his claim, then went on to win the Galway Plate in July 2022 before travelling to the United States to compete in the 2m 5f Grand National Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills, New Jersey.
Ridden by Rachael Blackmore as Gainford was side-lined by injury, Hewick then won the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase over 2m 6½f at Sandown in April.
[2] After a break of nearly five months, Hewick won the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Starting at 12/1 in a field of six, he raced in last place for much of the 3 miles and appeared to be out of contention when he rallied and eventually overtook leaders Bravemansgame and Allaho on the short run-in to win by 1½ lengths.
[2] Later in May there was a trip to France to contest the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) in Paris, where he finished second, one and a half lengths behind Losange Bleu.
Hanlon's ban had been imposed for bringing racing into disrepute, after he was filmed by a member of the public transporting a dead horse in a trailer behind one of his branded lorries.
Hanlon announced himself pleased with Hewick's performance, saying: "I said earlier that he is a better horse this year, and we will take on the big boys again at Kempton at Christmas.