Olly Murphy Entrusts Brewin'upastorm with Achieving an 'Incredible' Maiden Victory in Fairyhouse Debut
Olly Murphy is set to make a significant breakthrough in his training career as he prepares to saddle his first runner at Fairyhouse on Irish Grand National Day. The experienced and popular veteran horse, Brewin'upastorm, will be competing in the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle on Easter Monday, aiming to secure Murphy's first victory in Ireland.
The race features other notable contenders such as Sir Gerhard, Asterion Forlonge, and Zarak The Brave. Despite being 11 years old, Brewin'upastorm demonstrated his enduring capabilities by finishing second in a valuable handicap hurdle at Kelso earlier this month. Murphy is enthusiastic about this new venture, taking the horse to Ireland for a fresh experience. He acknowledges the challenge ahead but is optimistic about Brewin'upastorm's chances if he performs as well as he did in Kelso.
Whilst Murphy has previously achieved a second-place finish at Punchestown, an Irish victory would hold special significance for him. Having previously worked as an assistant trainer to Gordon Elliott before establishing his training career in 2017, Murphy has fond memories of his time in Ireland and winning at Fairyhouse would be an incredible achievement. Recognising Brewin'upastorm's abilities, Murphy hopes to secure a place in the race and would be delighted with an each-way finish.
Fairyhouse may also see a small but notable presence of British-trained runners, including Givemefive and Springtime Promise, adding further interest to the three-day meeting. Murphy's recent successes with Thunder Rock and Go Dante in Kelso's Listed Premier Chase and Sandown's Imperial Cup respectively have boosted his confidence. Thunder Rock will be competing in higher-level races at Aintree's Grand National meeting, with Murphy expecting a strong performance from the horse in the Grade 1 Bowl. Despite the increased competition, Thunder Rock's freshness and Murphy's strategic approach give cause for optimism, aiming for a notable performance at Aintree.