New Year celebrations continue apace for Olly Murphy as he makes plans for the Cheltenham Festival.
Four winners into 2020, the Stratford handler is anticipating having plenty of runners as the countdown to March begins.
Skandiburg and Thomas Darby, responsible for Murphy's first two trips into the famed winners' enclosure at Prestbury Park, are earmarked for a return, along with smart novice chaser Brewin'upastorm.
"We have had a quiet November and December," said Murphy.
"It's strange how this game works. They are back firing again and we are going to have a busy few months.
"Thomas Darby goes to Ascot on the 18th for a handicap hurdle.
"I didn't want to get beaten in a beginners chase and have no plan for the spring then, so we will hopefully get him moving in the right direction.
"The Coral Cup is a possibility.
"Brewin'upastorm is back cantering away and he will probably go to the Kingmaker at Warwick before hopefully coming back for the Arkle.
"He gave himself a bang when winning at Taunton and he's in great nick now."
New Year's Day hero Skandiburg may not be seen again until the spring, kept fresh for a tilt at one of the Cheltenham handicaps.
The six-year-old had to be rousted along at an early stage by Gavin Sheehan, but stayed on strongly in the closing stages for the win.
"I was thinking half way round 'what is going on here' as I really thought the horse would run well," Murphy said after the three-mile contest.
"He got a very good ride and he comes home strongly- he's a proper stayer this lad.
"He did everything wrong today and still won.
"I'm delighted to have a winner here for Kate and Andrew Brooks, they are big supporters of mine and racing.
"This is the place you want to be having winners, especially at the early stage of my career.
"We will freshen him up now and come straight back here in March for the Pertemps Final.
"In a strongly run race he'll certainly run respectably."
