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Exciting chaser Spillane’s Tower will only run over the festive period should there be sufficient ease in the ground.
Jimmy Mangan will be on weather watch over Christmas after revealing on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast that his exciting chaser Spillane's Tower will only run over the festive period should there be sufficient ease in the ground.
Following reports that Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, suggested Spillane's Tower could be supplemented for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the Jimmy Mangan-trained seven-year-old was installed as the 3/1 favourite for the festive feature, with Dan Skelton's Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning half a point bigger at 7/2.
However, Jimmy Mangan has issued a warning that his charge, who finished an excellent second to current Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Fact To File in the John Durkan Memorial Chase last month, will only run over Christmas if ground conditions are suitable.
With the Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File also sporting the famous green and yellow hooped silks of JP McManus, connections are understandably keen to split the pair. Both Fact To File hold entries in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, but with the former seeming more likely to stay on home soil, the latter could be set for a trip across the pond.
"He's been in great form. We're very happy with him and it's all going well for Christmas, provided the rain comes," explained Jimmy Mangan on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.
"If I saw the word good (in the going), I would be worried. I would think (the race) will suit him and Kempton would suit him as well."
The experienced novice chaser, who landed back-to-back Grade 1's last season at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in the spring, hadn't had the smoothest of preparations heading into the John Durkan, but Mangan was happy with the way he performed.
He said: "He did get lots of experience last year and it stood to him there in the John Durkan, you could see that he was very professional. It's just been a troublesome year really as you can't go on grass, and he hadn't been seen on it from April until Punchestown because the ground is so hard.
"Saying that, he jumped very well in Punchestown and he's naturally a good jumper, he usually very good.
"I knew he'd be there (in the Durkan), but he was only about 90 per cent fit because I couldn't get him away on grass, he was only on the all-weather gallop to get him reasonably fit but he was about 90 per cent, so I wasn't surprised he weakened a bit up the straight.
"I'll be in touch with Frank and JP, but they are brilliant people and horse comes first, so if the ground on either of the two tracks (Kempton and Leopardstown) is on the tight side, he will probably stay in his stable."