Brewin'upastorm set to miss Cheltenham but Murphy still hoping for debut success

Exciting chase prospect Brewin'upastorm is unlikely to take up his engagement at Cheltenham on Friday but his trainer Olly Murphy is still hopeful of a first winner at the November meeting with a small but select team headed by promising novice hurdler I K Brunel.

Brewin'upastorm, who made a successful start over fences at Carlisle last month, is a general second favourite for the 2m4f novice chase on Friday but is instead likely to head to Taunton on Thursday, with Murphy keen to avoid running the son of Milan on potentially testing ground.

"I'd like him, if possible, not to have an overly hard race on very soft ground and, all being well, he'll go to Sandown for the Henry VIII –that's his early season aim," the trainer said.

"He's come on a bundle for his run at Carlisle and looks great. Taunton over two and a quarter miles looks a nice race for him."

The three-day November meeting marks an important juncture in the jumps season and can pinpoint some emerging stars of the future. Murphy's rise through the training ranks has been a meteoric one, and he has hopes of making another statement with a first winner at the fixture.

"I'd say I'd have only had half a dozen runners there [at the meeting] but I'm looking forward to running a few over the weekend," Murphy said. "A lot of mine have been a bit slow getting going, I've still a lot to run who haven't run and I'll be very busy from next week onwards."

I K Brunel has already been in action this season, winning easily at Fontwell last month, and the five-year-old will have his sights raised on Friday for the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Murphy added: "He's in very good form and has improved since Fontwell. He's a horse I've always liked and I'm looking forward to stepping him up in trip again."

Brewin’Upastorm (pink silks): strikes on his chasing debut at CarlisleCredit: Grossick Photography

Murphy has two leading chances for the Listed Spinal Injuries Association Big Bucks Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday with Smackwater Jack and The Butcher Said on target for the race.

"I'll probably run the pair of them," Murphy said. "Smackwater Jack was an unlucky loser at Aintree last time and has definitely come on for the run. The Butcher Said has been a big improver. This is his first run in a handicap and it will be interesting to see how he copes with a slightly bigger field."

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