Brewin'upastorm won Fontwell's Loch Lomond Whiskies National Spirit Hurdle

McFabulous was mooted as a Stayers' Hurdle possible at the start of the season and was sent off as the 4/6 favourite for the appropriately sponsored two mile three furlong Grade Two contest.

However, Harry Cobden never looked entirely happy aboard the seven-year-old who flattened a flight on the first circuit.

In contrast, Aidan Coleman, looking on from the rear, always looked happy aboard the eventual winner who picked up impressively in the straight when asked to sweep into a clear lead.

The result never looked in doubt thereafter as Brewin'upastorm ran on strongly to win by five and a half lengths from McFabulous.

The Olly Murphy-trained eight-year-old, who was receiving 6lbs from the market leader, unseated as a 6/1 chance in last season's Arkle but hadn't beaten a rival home in two starts over fences at the start of this season.

He successfully reverted to hurdles in a Taunton handicap last month and with his confidence restored, took this step back up in class in his stride.

"I still think there's improvement which is brilliant because he's won that with a bit of hand. I still think he's not the finished article as I think the fences earlier on in the year have taken their toll, mentally, on him and that's why I think he's on the comeback trail," Coleman told Sky Sports Racing.

"I thought Taunton was a race made for him and it was a good performance but there were bits and pieces that he'd improve on confidence wise. He took a big step forwards today but I still think there's another bit left in there which is fantastic.

"When I brought him out he was a different horse. I did want to follow McFabulous to the last but when I saw he was under pressure down the back I didn't want to give him a chance so I committed sooner than I had originally planned and I was there a bit soon but I thought that was the best thing to do rather than sit on his skirt and give him the chance to beat me.

"He idled a bit in front and I knew he wouldn't do a lot but I didn't want to give Harry's horse a chance. I was very happy.

"It's a great race to win. The last three race meetings have been ploughed field (because of the weather) but you come here today and there's fresh ground everywhere; fantastic job, unbelievable."

Brewin’upastorm has no Cheltenham Festival entries this time round and will instead be seen next in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.

Murphy said: “I’m absolutely chuffed with that – he’s a very, very talented horse. It’s great to have that winning form at graded level. He got a very, very bad fright over fences – and things certainly didn’t go to plan on those runs.

“But Taunton was a great stepping stone, and then to win with as much authority as he did today in that company was very pleasing.”

“The penalties worked in his favour today,” added Murphy.

“But if they’d been reversed, and everyone was getting penalties off him, it would have made no difference. The way he won, he absolutely bolted up.

“He saw the two-mile-three out very well today, and the plan will be to go straight to Aintree for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One there.”

The Warwickshire trainer has always had a high opinion of Brewin’upastorm, and is delighted to have had his faith repaid.

“He’s kind of knocked on the door as a novice over hurdles and over fences and never really won a nice race, so I was just chuffed for the horse that he’s won this race,” added Murphy.

“I’d say he’ll never jump a fence again. But if he can be a good hurdler that will suit me just fine.

“There’s plenty of avenues to go down there, and he’s one to look forward to now we’ve got his confidence back.”

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