Tag Archive for: Brewin’Upastorm

Murphy favouring three-mile test at Aintree for Brewin’upastorm

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Brewin’upastorm could be upped to three miles at Aintree following his win in the National Spirit Hurdle.

Olly Murphy’s stable stalwart had struggled to hit the frame since finishing a head second in the Fontwell Grade Two in 2022, but primed to perfection by the Warren Chase handler following wind surgery, the 10-year-old rolled back the years in style to continue his love affair with the Sussex track and prove his engine remains fully intact.

Although only a length and a half ahead of Sceau Royal on that occasion, Murphy is confident Brewin’upastorm would have scooted clear of his rivals if not for making a momentum-stopping error at the last and is now keen to test his charge’s staying ability in the Jrl Group Liverpool Hurdle on Grand National Day (April 15), rather than take a third crack at the shorter Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the three-day meeting.

“He’s come out of his run at Fontwell really well and we’re quite keen to step him up in trip and have a look at the three-mile Grade One at Aintree rather than the Aintree Hurdle,” said Murphy.

“He will have an entry in both, but I just think we’re all keen to try something a little bit different.

“His last few years there have not gone as well as we would have liked and we’re going to train him a little bit different for the race. It’s a week later than it usually is, so we’re just going to try do things a little different. I have actually let him down a bit since Fontwell and we will now look forward to building him back up again after Cheltenham for that race.

Trainer Olly Murphy would like to try Brewin'upastorm over three miles at Aintree
Trainer Olly Murphy would like to try Brewin’upastorm over three miles at Aintree (Simon Marper/PA)

“It’s his last realistic chance of having a go at a Grade One I would imagine, but he obviously showed at Fontwell he is as good as ever and retains an awful lot of ability.

“Like I stress every time I run him, when he is good he is very good and if he hadn’t walked through the last, he would have a National Spirit on the bridle – he came inside the wings of the last on the bridle which takes a bit of doing.

“I just think if I can get him to Aintree in the best form I can and he turns up as he can on his best days, then he goes there with a chance and maybe the step up to three miles will bring out a bit of improvement again.”

Brewin’upatstorm regains National Spirit crown

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Brewin’upastorm survived a scare at the final flight to continue his love affair with the Betgoodwin National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

Olly Murphy’s stable stalwart won the Grade Two contest in 2021 before finishing a head second to Botox Has 12 months ago, but showed real guts to regain his crown in the Sussex track’s feature contest.

Given a wind operation since disappointing in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day, Aidan Coleman was content to bide his time as Goshen cut loose on the front end in the hands of Jamie Moore.

Gary Moore’s enigmatic seven-year-old was the focal point for the majority of the contest as, out on his own, his tendency to jink right came back to haunt him. But, by the time the quintet taking part reached the final bend with two to jump, the pack had swarmed on Goshen and Brewin’upastorm in particular was travelling menacingly in the hands of Coleman.

Hitting the front after the second last, Coleman sent the 10-year-old for home and the 7-2 chance proved a willing ally – pulling out more when challenged by Sceau Royal in the closing stages having briefly opened the door to Alan King’s veteran when having his momentum checked by a blunder at the last.

“That was brilliant,” said Murphy. “He’s a horse who has always had a lot of ability and I’ve kind of always stressed when he is good, he is very good.

“He was clearly on a going day today after coming back from a little break following a wind operation and it is great to win the race for a second time. He’s an absolute star.

“We were tight time-wise (to get to the race) but when these horses get a little bit older, you get to know them a bit better and the older they get, they probably don’t need as much graft. He was ready today and maybe he’s better off being a gallop short these days than one too many.

“It was a messy old race to watch. He had the door shut turning in and then walked through the last. But he’s a horse with an awful lot of ability who likes to make you sweat as well. He doesn’t make life easy for himself but he’s got a big engine and when he’s good, he’s good.

“He’s unlucky not to be three from three in the race, but we’re chuffed to win it again and we’ll enjoy celebrating.”

Murphy was denied a double on the card when Ben Pauling’s 11-8 favourite Quinta Do Mar edged out Grandads Cottage to take the Download The Betgoodwin App Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase by a length.

Quinta Do Mar, here winning over hurdles at Market Rasen, is now unbeaten in three runs at Fontwell
Quinta Do Mar, here winning over hurdles at Market Rasen, is now unbeaten in three runs at Fontwell (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It was very pleasing and the application of cheekpieces saw him right back to his best I think,” said Pauling – whose eight-year-old enhanced his fine unbeaten record at Fontwell.

“He travelled very well, jumped better for them and ultimately won quite nicely and it’s pleasing to see him get off the mark over fences.

“It doesn’t seem to matter what track it is down there, he does seem to like Fontwell, but I think he’s just been in good form every time he has gone there and the cheekpieces are what made the difference. I was pleased to see them work the way I thought they would.”

There was a double on the card for Chris Gordon and jockey Tom Cannon, who linked up to win the Free Bet Nose Losers At Betgoodwin ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle with Goodwin Racing (4-1), before Goodwin (100-30) claimed the concluding Benedict Cox Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race in good style.