Cheltenham News

Aspire Tower heading straight for Cheltenham

Henry de Bromhead says Aspire Tower is likely to head straight for next month’s Cheltenham Festival, where he holds entry in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The Robcour-owned five-year-old was a runner-up at Prestbury Park last year, finishing second to Burning Victory in the Triumph Hurdle, and since then he has recorded a victory at Down Royal and an impressive second-place finish to Sharjah at Leopardstown over the festive period.

A run in this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival had appeared to be next on the cards for Aspire Tower, but trainer De Bromhead has now confirmed he will swerve that meeting and instead looks set to be rested ahead of Cheltenham.

“Aspire Tower will probably go straight to Cheltenham,” De Bromhead was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “He’s still a baby, so we backed off him since Christmas – he’s filling out again and looks brilliant.”

De Bromhead has also confirmed a similar plan for Put The Kettle On, with last season’s Arkle winner holding entries in both the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase and the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival.

“Put The Kettle On didn’t get an entry at Leopardstown and is aiming for the spring as well,” the trainer added.

“We’ll probably enter her in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase (over two and a half miles) at Cheltenham, as well as the Champion Chase.

“You could argue her form is much better over two miles, but I think we should definitely have her entered in it (the mares’ chase).”

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