'On his day he's very, very good' - Olly Murphy hails Brewin'upastorm

Saturday: Aintree

Olly Murphy has never hidden how much he thinks of Brewin'upastorm and he was delighted to see him launch his 2021-22 campaign with a convincing win in the Betway Hurdle.

He has nursed the eight-year-old back from a confidence-shattering unseat in the Arkle Chase in 2020 and hopes there are more good hurdle races to win with him.

"That was a very good performance," he said after the 5-1 shot's nine-length win. "He gave 6lb to the majority of the field.

"On his day he's very, very good. He can be very bad, he can put in a lackadaisical round of jumping but we've done a lot of work with him. His confidence was gone after he unseated in the Arkle and I'm chuffed. Everyone needs a good horse in the yard."

Murphy, who also won the novice handicap chase with Linelee King, added: "Everything has to go to plan for him and he got a terrible fright when he unseated at Cheltenham two years ago, and it's taken me a bloody long time to get him back.

"He's a hard horse to campaign in England because he's not a three-miler and he's definitely not a two-miler. He may go over the water for small-field Graded races in France or Ireland."

Ruby's right – again

Koshari was another winner for Ruby Walsh at Aintree, two and a half years after his retirement from the saddle.

The 12-time Irish champion jump jockey remains close to Willie Mullins, who trained the nine-year-old before his private sale last month.

Koshari was making his debut for David Christie when springing an 80-1 shock in the Pertemps Hurdle qualifier and the County Fermanagh trainer said: "I was expecting a good run, I couldn't believe the price. The owners have been on each-way.

"He went to the sales and he wasn't sold. I happened to be at Thurles and I chatted to Ruby and he said 'that horse is fine, he maybe lacks a gear and is an out-and-out stayer'.

"So we bought him privately and Ruby rang me yesterday. He said sit and come at the last and he was spot on – well played to Ruby!"

Koshari: 'Well played to Ruby!'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Poignant win

Trevor Hemmings loved nothing more than a winner at Aintree, so Hillcrest's novice hurdle success in his colours was hugely emotional.

The owner won the Grand National a record-equalling three times, with Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds, and this was the first winner here for one of his string since he died last month.

Trainer Henry Daly was visibly moved and said: "Lots of his family are here and this is pretty cool."

Daly thinks plenty of Hillcrest as a potential future chaser and said: "He's a big boy, a classic T Hemmings. My measuring stick goes up to 18 hands and it won't go over him. I don't know how big he is, because of that.

"He might be very good. A slowly run race like that was not playing to his strengths. He bunny-hopped one or two and the faster they went the better it suited him."

Hillcrest: 'He might be very good'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Read more on Trevor Hemmings:

Three-time Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings dies at the age of 86

Trainers salute 'Mr Aintree' following death of National legend Trevor Hemmings

Trevor Hemmings: I got on well with Ginger but he and I would have clashed

The remarkable facts and figures behind Trevor Hemmings' racing achievements

Replays, results and analysis

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