Spillane's Tower (left) with Firm Footings© Photo Healy Racing
Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy Mangan won with a promising maiden chaser today, as his J.P. McManus-owned Spillane's Tower (9/4jf) landed Punchestown's opening William Hill Ireland Rated Novice Chase.
Runner-up at the course's April festival, the five-year-old was produced by Mark Walsh from last to lead on the run-in and while defeating Firm Footings by just a head, scored in the manner of a horse which might prefer further than today's two-miles.
An impressed Mangan reported “he is a smart horse, we like him a lot and he has never disappointed us on any of his races. He is an old fashioned chaser and I'm very grateful to the McManus family, who bred him, for sending him to me.
“It was a hell of a race he ran in at Navan the last time (won by Facile Vega) and any horse who performs well at Navan, you are really going places.
"He'll step up in trip and won't be found wanting. He is a big horse and can only improve.
“We'll see how he comes out of this race and we'll speak to Frank (Berry, McManus' racing manager) and whatever they say, we'll do. We like him a lot and I'm delighted for them as they put so much into this game."
Mangan, recently credited with pre-training a Willie Mullins-trained bumper winner, added “we only have a few horses now and I'm delighted to have a horse like him. He's our star at the minute.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
