Horse Racing Betting Tips: Murphy and Johnson can brew up a storm at Cheltenham

LESS THAN a week ago trainer Nicky Henderson threw a spanner in the works by changing his running plans at the last minute in a high-profile hurdle race and he appears to be repeating the trick.

Champ had been a warm order for tomorrow’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (3.00pm), but is set to be replaced by his more inexperienced stablemate Birchdale.

The unbeaten five-year-old heads the betting for the Grade Two trial on the back of an impressive win at Warwick last month.

He’s unquestionably a horse with a bright future but whether he deserves to be as short as 11/8 is debatable.

Jarveys Plate created a good impression when relishing the step up in trip to beat another Henderson hotpot here on New Year’s Day.

He looks the one they all have to beat, but the fact that he has to shoulder a 5lb penalty sways me towards BREWIN’UPASTORM at 5/2.

Olly Murphy’s runner was caught out by the muddling pace at Newbury behind Champ in the Challow Hurdle and was running on again back in fourth at the death.

I expect Richard Johnson to ensure they go a decent gallop this time if nobody else is prepared to make it and it will take a good one to lower his colours.

When Brewin’Upastorm bolted up at Huntingdon earlier last month he had Dan Skelton’s FLASH THE STEEL well behind him back in fourth.

That horse has since won at Doncaster and can defy just a 5lb rise in the closing handicap hurdle (4.10pm).

His mark of 125 may still underestimate his potential and the 7/1 available looks worth snapping up.

If you’re looking for any more betting advice this weekend, a new social betting network called betconnect has recently launched, enabling punters to follow the bets of professional gamblers.

An idea inspired by eToro, it sends punters bet requests for them to either match or lay.

It will be very interesting to see if it takes off.

POINTERS SATURDAY

Brewin’Upastorm 3.00pm Cheltenham

Flash The Steel e/w 4.10pm Cheltenham