Tuesday 15 January 2019 14:15, UK
Olly Murphy has earmarked the Ballymore Classic Novices' Hurdle on Trials Day at Cheltenham as the next port of call for Brewin'Upastorm.
Always highly regarded by his handler, he won on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon before being thrown in at the deep end for the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
He finished a close-up fourth behind Champ on that occasion, but Murphy felt he would have performed even better in different conditions.
"He'll go to the Grade Two race over two and a half miles on Trials Day at Cheltenham," said Murphy.
"He's in very good form, I think he's come on for his run at Newbury and we're really looking forward to running him.
"I think you'll see a really improved performance the next time you see him.
"He came home really strongly and the race wasn't run to suit him at all. I think a truly-run championship race is what he really wants.
"I wouldn't be swapping him for too much. I thought, considering it was his second run over hurdles, it was very good."
Another nice youngster in his care is the JP McManus-owned Collooney, who got off the mark at the second time of asking at Bangor having looked unfortunate on his hurdling debut behind Brandon Castle.
"Collooney is only five, I know he only just won the other day but I thought it was snug," said Murphy.
"He's a horse with a nice future. The handicapper says he's got a mark of 126, so we might exploit that somewhere along the way.
"I think we were unlucky at Plumpton, he was nearly brought down three out and missed the last, but still nearly won. He's a horse with a nice future."
