Aspire Tower gets back to winning ways at Punchestown

Henry de Bromhead’s Aspire Tower, second in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle, won for the first time in four years when making all the running in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Hurdle at Punchestown.

The season after his Cheltenham effort he took the Grade Two WKD Hurdle at Down Royal and was fourth to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle back at Cheltenham, but was absent from April 2021 to October 2023.

Last term he mixed hurdling and chasing, but was not seen after a heavy fall in March and he was back over the smaller obstacles as a confidence booster.

Sent off an 11-4 chance against Pied Piper and Eagle Fang, Darragh O’Keeffe sent the eight-year-old into an early advantage and it was one he was not to relinquish. Pied Piper fell at the last when beaten, leaving Eagle Fang to come home in second.

“It’s great to get him back as he took a very heavy fall in Leopardstown last season. He was very sore after it, so it was great to get him back,” said Robbie Power, representing De Bromhead.

“This looked a nice opportunity for him, a small field, and it will do his confidence the world of good.

“He was a 160-rated hurdler at one stage so hopefully we can get him back to somewhere near that level.

“It’s a nice win and a great start to the season and we’ll look at what the options are for him over hurdles and fences.”