Spillane's Tower Ryanair-bound with Gold Cup coming 'a year too soon' for dual Grade 1 winner

Jimmy Mangan feels Spillane's Tower is still a bit young to tackle a gladiator like Galopin Des Champs in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup so the two-time Grade 1 winner will instead be aimed at the Ryanair Chase, a race he is no bigger than 7-1 for. 

The beaten King George favourite was the most surprising absentee from the Gold Cup entries, and Mangan explained that decision by saying: "He's just a bit young for the Gold Cup yet, it's a year too soon for him. 

"The Ryanair Chase has a big entry and I think that's because they're scared of Galopin Des Champs. The Ryanair will suit our lad, so hopefully we can get him there in good shape."

Spillane's Tower started the season with a bang when getting within half a length of Fact To File in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown, where he had Galopin Des Champs over two lengths behind in third, but he never got into any rhythm in the King George and trailed in fifth, 17 and a half lengths behind Banbridge. 

Jimmy Mangan (left) is congratulated by JP McManus after Spillane's Tower's victory in the Champion Novice Chase at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Reflecting on the race, Mangan said: "The King George was a funny sort of race. It's a quick track and things happen fast there. He just didn't seem to operate around there on the day and things didn't happen for him, but Mark [Walsh] was still happy. The ground was quick enough for him at Kempton – it was only barely yielding.

"He's naturally a terrific jumper, but he didn't jump with any fluency at Kempton. He just wasn't himself on that ground. He's a better horse on softer ground."

Whether we will see Spillane's Tower before the Ryanair has not been decided yet. Mangan admitted the travelling to Kempton took a bit out of his stable star, but having a crack at the Irish Gold Cup on the first Sunday in February has not been ruled out of the equation, especially if the ground were on the soft side. 

Mangan said: "The travelling took a bit out of him. The King George was the first time he had been away from home and it took its toll. He's 100 per cent other than that. 

"We're not ruling out the Irish Gold Cup. He’ll have an entry for that and I'll speak to Frank [Berry, JP McManus' racing manager] beforehand to decide what we'll do."

The Ryanair is shaping up to be a vintage edition, with Fact To File topping the market at 7-2 and King George hero Banbridge next best at 5-1. Spillane's Tower is 7-1, alongside Gaelic Warrior, who is a shorter price for the Champion Chase.

Ryanair Chase (3.20 Cheltenham, Thursday March 13) Paddy Power: 7-2 Fact To File, 5 Banbridge, 7 Spillane's Tower, Gaelic Warrior, 8 El Fabiolo, 10 Il Est Francais, 12 bar

Festival Fields:

Gerri Colombe 'can be the one to give Galopin most to think about' says Gordon Elliott as he hands top chaser surprise British option 

British Gold Cup challenge hits new low as entries for major Cheltenham Festival chases are revealed 

How the King George has muddied this year's Cheltenham Festival picture - plus more key talking points 

Ryanair market looks set for a big shake-up - and this proven top-class chaser could end up a whole lot shorter 

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