King George chaos as Shishkin unseats with race at his mercy and Guinness-drinking horse Hewick wins after hitting 549-1

ONE of the most dramatic races EVER saw Shishkin unseat his jockey with the race at his mercy as Hewick came from the clouds at odds of 549-1 to win an all-time thriller.

Trainer Shark Hanlon was looking for a jockey to ride his Guinness-drinking superstar horse – who cost £800 – only a few days ago.

GettySheehan salutes the Kempton crowd after winning the King George[/caption]

Heroic trainer Shark previously took Hewick into a pub for some Guinness – and says the horse likes it

But red-hot Gavin Sheehan gave the ride of his life to get Hewick from dead last to first after Shishkin threw the race away at the second-last fence.

Nicky Henderson’s former Supreme winner made it over the other side of the penultimate flight but looked to slip a step or two after.

Jockey Nico de Boinville – who earlier cruised to Christmas Hurdle glory on Constitution Hill – was dumped to the turf.

At this stage Hewick was still miles behind but the American Grand National hero surged home with rocket boosters to stun the two market leaders.

Sheehan – who said he would have pulled the horse up had it not been the King George – even had time to celebrate before the line.

It was another runner-up finish for Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame, his second of the season, while 13-8 fav Allaho could only manage third.

Red-hot Sheehan, who adds the huge Grade 1 to his roll of honour after victories in the December Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup all this month, told ITV: “I knew he stays and stays and I wasn’t able to get going.

“There’s only a certain amount of questions you can ask and if they aren’t answering, you can’t ask.

“Shark said before he’s probably the smallest horse here but he’s got the biggest heart.

“I was absolutely delighted when I was told that Shark was getting me on Hewick. It was a no-brainer.

“To come here and do it like that was just amazing. I’m gobsmacked – that’s a King George and they’re not easy races to win.”

Hewick was tanking in March’s Gold Cup but fell two out when being headed by the market leaders.

But the way he stayed on here suggests the Cheltenham feature really is right up his street.

Shark Hanlon said it’s probably straight to the Festival now – with bookies slashing him from 33-1 to 14-1 for racing’s most prestigious prize.

There won’t be a dry bar in the county if Hewick defies the odds again.

More to follow.