Aspire Tower and Rachael Blackmore© Photo Healy Racing
Aspire Tower impressed on debut for Henry de Bromhead to earn Triumph Hurdle quotes after taking the Download The Betdaq App 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown under Rachael Blackmore.
The successful pilot explained: “To be honest nothing really went to plan. He pretty much ran away with me for the first half of the race.
“He nearly got me off at the second. He just put in a little jink — I was very glad that I didn’t come off there.
“He was impressive off the home bend to finish how he did after a messy beginning.
“When the tape went he jumped out as if he were coming out of stalls and he was kind of gone on me.
“I got him back a little bit down the back and he’s definitely going to be very adaptable to that discipline.
“He loves jumping. He was schooling very well at home and he really enjoyed it today. It’s a hard thing to do, especially going down the inside at Punchestown. It’s very open so he was good.”
After Aspire Tower (9/4 favourite) got it done from the front by thirteen lengths from Sea Ducor (11/4), Betfair introduced him at 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.
“At the start Rachael was brilliant on him and JJ(Slevin)’s horse maybe didn’t help him either,” said de Bromhead.
“He jumped great and fair play to Rachael for getting him around. It’s tough out there on the inside track as its tight and open. He quickened up nicely in the end.
“He ticked a lot of boxes coming to us and in fairness Steve Gollings had done a great job with him and he’d won for Hannons as well. He looked a nice horse for one to come off the Flat.
“You couldn’t ask him to do better than what he did there. It was tough for him and Rachael.
“We’ll have a look at Leopardstown now. He’s owned by a new client (Brendan McNeill) and we’ll see what everyone wants to do.”
J.J. Slevin, rider of Majority Share trained by A. Oliver, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his saddle slipped and he pulled up thereafter.
(AM & EM)
