Brewin'upastorm 'in really good form' ahead of National Spirit repeat bid

Brewin'upastorm will take the same path towards his major target of the Aintree Hurdle as last year after trainer Olly Murphy said his stable star would bid for a repeat victory in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday (2.50), where he could meet Irish-trained Darver Star.

An impressive five-and-a-half-length winner of the Grade 2 a year ago, Brewin'upastorm has been in fine form this season with two easy wins from three starts, including victory in the inaugural running of the Winter Million Hurdle at Lingfield last month.

Murphy had been inclined to head straight to Aintree with Brewin'upastorm and step him back up to the top level immediately after his Lingfield win, but he will let him bid to become just the third back-to-back winner of the National Spirit Hurdle – a feat last achieved by Lough Derg in 2007 and 2008.

He said: "I've entered him for the National Spirit on Sunday as he's in really good form. He's had a really good season and the plan is to allow him to defend his crown. It will be Fontwell-Aintree again this year no doubt. Cheltenham won't be on his agenda."

2.50 Fontwell: National Spirit Hurdle entries and betting

Brewin'upastorm finished fifth in the Aintree Hurdle behind Abacadabras last year, but Murphy believes the feelgood factor is now back with his star, who fell at the final flight in the Relkeel Hurdle with the race at his mercy.

"He's unlucky not to be unbeaten this season," he added. "We've found his trip and got his confidence back. Fontwell will suit him again and we're really looking forward to running him."

Brewin'upastorm: in fine form this campaignCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Second in the Winter Million Hurdle last time, Darver Star could bid to become the first non-British winner of the National Spirit since 2005 after being pulled out of Tuesday's Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

Speaking on the Racing Post's In The Know Cheltenham Festival preview show, trainer Gavin Cromwell said: "He has an entry in the National Spirit, and it's looking likely the ground will certainly be kinder there. It's a good race, as expected being worth £90,000, and we're swaying in that direction."

Dreal Deal, like Darver Star trained in Ireland, in his case by Ronan McNally, and Grade 1 winners Monmiral and Allmankind also feature in the seven entries.

Another of Murphy's leading hurdlers, Thomas Darby, will also miss the Cheltenham Festival. The Long Distance Hurdle winner will bid to improve on his third in last year's Liverpool Hurdle at the Grand National meeting, despite being pulled up in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock last weekend.

Murphy said: "It was complete trainer error. I was one of many that probably should have left their horse at home on Saturday, they were either handling it or pulling up. It was going to be six or out and I'm annoyed at myself that I ran him.

"Hindsight is a great thing, but we'll freshen him up and go straight to Aintree. Put a complete line through his run on Saturday."

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday