Murphy bags Irish win with Storm

Olly Murphy realised a long held ambition to trainer a winner in Ireland when Brewin'upastorm proved too strong for hotpot Zarak The Brave in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The Milan gelding went to post a 5/1 shot in the Grade 2 contest and was produced to challenge, by Jack Kennedy, at the second last where front-runner Maxxum crashed out.

Brewin'upastorm was strongly pressed down to the final flight by the favourite but found plenty in the closing stages to record a hard-fought half-length success.

It was a third win at this level for Brewin'upastorm, who had last scored at Fontwell in February 2023.

Murphy said:- “I enjoyed that! He's a very good horse on his day and he's only good once a year, if that makes sense.

“He really turned up today and I thought he just outstayed Willie's horse from the back of the last.

“Ireland has been a brilliant place for me, I spent five fantastic years here. I learned an awful lot off Gordon (Elliott) and watched Jack grow up to be the man he is today, I watched him ride his first winner.

“Coming over and taking on the best of the Irish, the way national hunt racing is at the moment on both sides of the Irish Sea, it was something I always wanted to do — train a winner over here.

“I really enjoyed that, Ireland has been a very good place for me and to come back and have a big winner here is magic.

“I probably came over due to the lack of opportunities on our side of the sea. It's hard to win anywhere, it's hard to win in England let alone here.

“I enjoyed that as much as any winner I've trained.”