Henry de Bromhead has revealed Aspire Tower will most likely be aimed for the Champion Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
Aspire Tower came into 2020 on the back of consecutive victories, having scored at Punchestown and Leopardstown in November and December respectively last year, and there were high hopes of continuing that run.
However, the four-year-old gelding failed when the odds-on favourite at Leopardstown in February, falling at the last in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
That run didn’t stop connections from sending Aspire Tower to the Cheltenham Festival in March and he produced a valiant performance when finishing second in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Burning Victory.
Speaking about the plans for his charge, trainer De Bromhead confirmed the Champion Hurdle for next year’s event at Prestbury Park is the most likely option.
“He won’t run on the Flat this summer. He will have a good break now and we’ll bring him back for next year,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“I would think we will give him a chance to go down the Champion Hurdle route. I haven’t discussed it with the lads, but he’s entitled to have a look.”
