Spillane's Tower ruled out of Betfair Chase following tame reappearance at Naas

Jimmy Mangan has ruled Spillane's Tower out of the Betfair Chase at Haydock later this month after an underwhelming reappearance in the Listed handicap hurdle at Naas on Sunday. 

After being a late withdrawal from the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal last weekend, the first Grade 1 of the domestic jumps season, Spillane's Tower was expected to exploit a 33lb lower mark over hurdles eight days later and was sent off 6-5 favourite. 

But the two-time Grade 1 winner failed to fire under Mark Walsh and trailed in ninth of 14, beaten 17½ lengths. 

Spillane's Tower was as short as 7-2 for the Betfair Chase before Sunday's race but Mangan was quick to rule out a trip to Haydock and a return to the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown at the end of the month could be on the cards instead. It is a race in which he chased home Fact To File last year. 

Reflecting on the comeback, Mangan said: "He's just not a hurdler. He never was and he jumps hurdles the same way he jumps fences and makes a proper shape over them. 

"I thought he would come on a bit for the run, but I didn't think he would be as far back as he was. But, look, Monty's Pass or Stroll Home never won a hurdle race. A lot of my good horses never won a hurdle race, but were a different horse altogether when they saw a fence. I would say this fella is the same. 

"He won't go to Haydock for the Betfair Chase; that would come too soon for him now. We might go back to the John Durkan, maybe, but we'll see."

Bookmakers reacted to the performance by pushing Spillane's Tower out to 12-1 for the John Durkan and he is as big as 50-1 for the King George.

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