HENRY de Bromhead could have a very smart juvenile hurdler on his hands in Aspire Tower who ran out a commanding winner of the BETDAQ-sponsored three-year-old maiden hurdle on a day that featured several performances of note.

Rachael Blackmore’s mount was keen and a shade errant early on and wasn’t helped by the free-running Majority Share whose saddle slipped in the opening stages.

However, the jockey got this Brendan McNeill-owned son of Born To Sea back on an even keel from halfway and Aspire Tower produced a taking effort, especially considering what transpired early on. A smart listed-placed 86-rated flat runner in Britain, Aspire Tower defeated Sea Ducor by 13 lengths and he looks graded-race material.

“Fair play to Rachael, it was hair raising stuff early on but she was very good,” declared the trainer. “I would imagine we will look at the Grade 2 at Leopardstown over Christmas but we’ll see what the owner would like to do.”

Compliment

The trainer and jockey brought up a double as Cavalry Master (8/1) paid a handsome compliment to Embittered (to whom he finished fourth at Naas earlier in the month) in the BETDAQ Trading Tools Maiden Hurdle.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned grey made the running and found plenty nearing the last when pressed by Sizing Pottsie.

The latter was soon beaten and Cavalry Master sustained his effort to hold a staying-on Buddy Rich by three-quarters of a length. A two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas could be next for the winner.

The evens favourite, Dlauro, was reported to be blowing hard and to have burst a blood vessel after finishing down the field.

Salsaretta among Mullins’ treble

THE strength of Willie Mullins’ winter string was once again in evidence as the trainer notched up his second treble in four days to go with a pair of four-timers in recent weeks and he looks to have a nice chasing prospect on his hands in Salsaretta (9/1).

The Danny Mullins-ridden mare, who lowered the colours of Felix Desjy last season, looked at home on her first try over larger obstacles in the BETDAQ Sportsbook Rated Novice Chase.

In a race where her stablemate and favourite Dorrels Pierji was a well-held fifth, the Susannah Ricci-owned mare brushed aside the Leopardstown Chase winner Whisperinthebreeze after two out before an eight-length victory over Galvin.

“Danny felt he was going very well from a long way out. We’ll see what mares’ races are coming up but she could take on the geldings again,” reported the trainer.

As expected, the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle over just short of two and three-quarter miles went to Mullins but not in the order anticipated by the market as Danny Mullins and Drury (9/2) handed out a 16-length beating to her stablemate and 11/8 favourite Minella Encore.

Drury took a couple of runs to find her feet but this half-sister to Champ has really come into her own over longer trips. The daughter of Beat Hollow seized control of this race after the second last and steadily moved clear of the market leader who was running for the first time since February 2018.

“Her fitness probably told and going this trip has brought about huge improvement. We’ll look at something over Christmas for her,” stated Mullins who trains the winner for Drury Tea & Coffee Limited.

Debut

The Susannah Ricci-owned Aione (11/10) completed the treble in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Flat Race where he was returning to action some 919 days after making a winning debut in a point-to-point.

Another son of Coastal Path, this six-year-old did everything at his leisure for Patrick Mullins. He strode into a useful advantage turning in and he maintained that lead to finish three lengths ahead of The Road To Fame.

“He’ll go hurdling now as I want to be going chasing with him next season. He gallops and jumps and is one for the staying division. He’s a nice type.”

THE capable Rocky’s Silver justified strong support to make it four wins from 11 career starts in the BETDAQ-sponsored 0-116 handicap chase over an extended two and three-quarter miles.

James Dullea’s charge was backed from 10/1 earlier in the day into 7/2 favouritism and, just as he had been for the gelding’s previous triumphs, Conor Orr was on board the Margaret Kiely-owned grey.

Rocky’s Silver was possibly getting the better of Frankly All Talk when that one came down with two jump and this left him to finish five and a half lengths ahead of Guided By You in a race where just five of the 14 contestants completed.

“He’s a great stalwart of ours and he’s better horse over fences. A trip and deep ground are his ideal conditions and we’ll look at Limerick over Christmas for him,” reported the trainer.

The Gerry Keane-trained Howaya Aoife (8/1) came out the right side of a bunch finish to the 80-109 rated BETDAQ Casino Mares Handicap Hurdle where three lengths covered the first six home. The Ricky Doyle-ridden eight-year-old got up late on having been no better the midfield turning for home.

This daughter of Court Cave is out of her trainer’s decent chaser Howaya Pet and is owned and bred by Stephen Vaughan.