Cheltenham looms for Aspire Tower

De Bromhead leans towards direct route with Champion Hurdle candidate.

Aspire Tower is likely to head straight to Cheltenham for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead’s five-year-old finished second at the Festival last March in the Triumph Hurdle to Burning Victory.

This season, he began by beating Abacadabras at Down Royal before running a meritorious race when second to Sharjah at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He does hold an entry at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend, but will not be taking it up.

“Aspire Tower will probably go straight to Cheltenham,” said De Bromhead.

“He’s still a baby, so we backed off him since Christmas – he’s filling out again and looks brilliant.”

Last season’s Arkle winner Put The Kettle One may run in the inaugural mares’ chase – but will also have an entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

She won at Cheltenham in November before finishing third to Chacun Pour Soi last time out.

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

“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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Cheltenham Festival Henry De Bromhead

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