The Grade Two WKD Hurdle at Down Royal saw Henry de Bromhead saddle a one three as Aspire Tower (4s into 3s) led them home under Rachael Blackmore.

It boiled down to the big three in the market from the third last hurdle.

Aspire Tower was too strong for odds-on shot Abacadabras on the run-in, and four and a half lengths split them. The other de Bromhead hope, Jason The Militant was a short head back in third.

Paddy Power initially went 20/1 from 50/1 about Aspire Tower for the Champion Hurdle. They then clipped him into 14/1 after laying the 20s.

Powers extended Abacadabras from 5/1 out to 8/1 for the same race.

Aspire Tower’s jumping had improved as they went along here, and not surprisingly de Bromhead was well pleased, saying: “Delighted with that.

“He was so good at Christmas last year and I just felt after that his form just didn’t look as good. He’s a big four-year-old and he had only just come off the flat and maybe everything caught up with him a little bit as the season went on.

“The lads were right - we gave him a really good break and it is fantastic that he comes back like that.

“Rachael (Blackmore) was brilliant on him, he is tough out and he did it the hard way on his first run since March.

“I’m delighted with Jason (The Militant) as well, he ran really well and Paul (Townend) thought he would come on from that.”

When asked if he would be training Aspire Tower like a Champion Hurdle horse now, he replied: “I think he is entitled to certainly step up again. I’ll speak to the lads and see what everyone wants to do.

“I would imagine we would look at Christmas and see what is going on there.”

(MG & EM)