3 minute read
Spillane's Tower followed up his victory in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse with a strong staying performance in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase on day one of the Punchestown Festival.
An impressive winner of the two-mile four-furlong Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse last month, Spillane's Tower was 5/2 to get the better of joint favourite Monty's Star, who was making his first appearance since filling the runner-up spot in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Just thirty-five minutes or so after suffering agonising defeat in the Grade 1 Champion Chase onboard Captain Guinness, Rachael Blackmore once again had to settle for silver medal honours, as the Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane's Tower stayed on powerfully to repel the late challenge of Monty's Star by three-quarters of a length.
The six-year-old, who was stepping up beyond three miles for the first time in his career, was cut to 16/1 (from 33s) by bookmaker Paddy Power.
Walsh, who was enjoying a Grade 1 double having steered Mystical Power to victory earlier on the card, told Racing TV: "He's a gorgeous-looking horse. He's made for chasing and we're delighted with what he's done this season – I'm looking forward to next season now.
"He's won over three [miles] and he's won over two and a half [miles]. He can come back or stay at that trip. He's not a slow horse, he has a turn of foot, so options are open next year."
He added: "Jimmy's a great man. Everyone in Irish racing knows he's a lovely man and I'm just delighted he has a good horse like him now."
"He's a special horse to us," said Mangan, who trained 2003 Grand National Monty's Pass. "We're dreaming a nice bit about him because he has something special."