Nags to RICHES

Bargain horse out to win & enjoy a Guinness

- MARTIN FRICKER

THE bargain-basement racehorse could bag its Irish owner a bumper St Patrick's Day payday in today's Gold Cup.

Hewick cost just £800, the price of a cow, but has already earned trainer John "Shark" Hanlon nearly £400,000 in winnings.

And he could double his profit if the eight-year-old horse wins Cheltenham Festival's big race.

Hanlon, 55, caused a stir last October when he took 33/1 shot Hewick into his local pub in Co Carlow for a slurp of Guinness.

In six months he has won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and the American Grand National.