February Update winner Brewin'upastorm (3/1)

Brewin'upastorm was selected in the February Update and Olly Murphy's gelding landed the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday. Things didn't go to plan over fences for the son of Milan earlier in the season and he looked much happier over hurdles at Taunton last time when a handicap off a mark of 148. Upped in class once again here, he stayed on strongly to beat odds on favourite McFabulous by five and a half lengths. The runner-up never looked comfortable on the sharp track and Aidan Coleman's mount had too much speed for Paul Nicholls' charge after the second last. The Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle (8th April) will presumably be next on his agenda and it worth recalling he was runner-up over course and distance in the highest company as a novice hurdle a couple of years ago. He won't disgrace himself at the Grand National meeting. 

Pont Du Gard is featured in the French Revolution section of One Jump Ahead and he shaped well on his Irish debut in the first division of the two miles maiden hurdle. Third on his only start for Guillaume Macaire in November 2019, he was bought by J.P.McManus soon afterwards and had been absent since. Now trained by Joseph O'Brien, the Kapgarde gelding almost certainly found the trip on the sharp side - half-brother to Grade 1 winner Pont Alexandre - but he kept on well after the last. Beaten less than two lengths, he pulled fifteen clear of the third. It won't be long before he goes one better and then goes chasing in the Autumn.