Can Brewin'upastorm cement his Grade 1 claims with National Spirit victory?

Royalequestrian Bedding And Manor Elite Horsebox National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m3f | 4yo+ | Sky

Brewin’upastorm probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He falls short of the very top class, but is a difficult horse to beat at his level and has won four of his last six outings.

His latest victory came at the expense of the reopposing Darver Star at Lingfield, when he conceded 6lb to that rival, and they race off the same terms here. Goshen was behind them that day and has since won the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown and Wincanton’s Kingwell.

It’s probably not wise to take the form at face value. Goshen is a far better horse going right-handed than he is on an anti-clockwise track and he may not have truly stayed two and a half miles on testing ground at Lingfield. All Goshen’s best form has come over two miles.

Brewin’upastorm probably wouldn’t have relished the heavy ground himself and he looks to have sound claims of confirming the places with Darver Star on better going.

Monmiral is the most exciting horse in the line-up. He was an outstanding juvenile hurdler last season and it’s hard to knock his seven-and-a-half-length thrashing of Adagio at Aintree last year. Adagio has since finished second in the Greatwood and, to Goshen, in the Kingwell.

It’s also worth pointing out that Monmiral’s return in the Fighting Fifth, when fifth of six, can be ignored. He finished lame in a race run at a gruelling pace on his first outing since April.

He has had a 92-day break since, but this appears to be a prep for a return to Aintree in April.

The best horse in the race, over hurdles and fences, is Allmankind but he is another with bigger fish to fry. Aintree also looks to be on the agenda for him, given he won the Old Roan at the track in October, and that victory came on the back of a prep run in a Chepstow hurdle.

He is back over hurdles on his return from 84 days off and maybe this is just another prep.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'He's capable of winning a Grade 1'

Brewin'upastorm will try to retain his National Spirit crown for Olly Murphy before another tilt at the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle at Aintree.

The nine-year-old fell in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in January but bounced back to win on heavy ground at Lingfield, where he finished clear of Darver Star and Kingwell Hurdle winner Goshen.

"He's come out of Lingfield really well and I'm looking forward to him defending his crown in what looks like a competitive running," said his trainer. "He's got course form and I wouldn't swap him.

Connections celebrate after Brewin'upastorm's Lingfield winCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"I don't think he was at his brilliant best last time but hopefully that performance helped him to regain his confidence. You could make a case for all of the six runners but I'm confident he can run well."

Brewin'upastorm finished fifth in last season's Aintree Hurdle, beaten eight lengths by Abacadabras, and is on course for Aintree in April.

"That's his Gold Cup," said Murphy. "He's had a productive year and Aintree is his big target. When it all clicks, I think he's more than capable of winning a Grade 1. He's nine, so hopefully he's in his prime."

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Guard Your Dreams
He's doing well. It's looks quite a hot race but a lot of them have questions to answer. He's run consistently well for us this season.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Monmiral
He's taking on race-fit horses and this will be like his first run of the season as he was struck into at Newcastle in November and spent a month at the vets. He's fit enough to run but he's going to improve for it. It will be a tough task. The plan is to go to Aintree from here.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Allmankind
He doesn’t get a penalty because he’s back over hurdles and I’m chuffed to bits with him. He's a player at this trip and the track will suit. He's in much better form than he was after Huntingdon.

Gary Moore, trainer of Botox Has
He's in good order after his run at Sandown. We're very happy with him but he's got his work cut out and we'll see what he can do. He'll go on any ground but ideally we'd like it on the softer side for him as he is suited by a bit of a stamina test.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Darver Star
He goes there in good nick and it looks like there should be beautiful ground. He gets a pull at the weights with some of his rivals and hopefully he has a chance. I thought he ran fine at Lingfield last time in a bit of a messy race that didn't go to plan.

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