Spillane’s Tower out to enhance impressive Punchestown record

If course form stands for anything, Jimmy Mangan and connections of Spillane’s Tower have every right to be hopeful of a big run in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

From five visits to the Kildare track, the JP McManus-owned gelding has three victories and two second places, taking a Grade One on this card 12 months ago and splitting Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs on his reappearance in the John Durkan in November, after which he was fifth when favourite for the King George and then missed Cheltenham and Aintree.

Mangan said: “I was a small bit disappointed that we didn’t get to run in the Bowl (at Aintree). We were in the pre-parade ring and luckily Mark Walsh rode in the race previous and he hopped off and came over to Frank Berry and myself and said, ‘The ground is gone, Jimmy, withdraw the horse’.

“He had travelled over well and everything was 100 per cent and I was expecting a massive, big run out of him.

“It was great to win at the festival last year and he won his beginners’ chase there as well, and a Grade Three after that, so he loves Punchestown.”

Galopin Des Champs is again in opposition, although the Willie Mullins-trained gelding has twice been beaten in this race and comes here following a surprise defeat in his bid for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“Galopin Des Champs knew he had a race after Cheltenham, but has had plenty of time to recover and seems back to himself now,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie.

“Obviously, he’s trying to break his Punchestown Gold Cup hoodoo, but there’s not Fastorslow there this year, so hopefully he can finish out his season in style. But regardless, it’s been an incredible season for him and we are already looking forward to next year.”

Monty’s Star (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore) was second to Spillane’s Tower here last year and takes his chance after finishing a creditable fourth in the blue riband at Cheltenham.

Blackmore told Betfair: “He ran a big race at this meeting last year, going down by three-parts of a length to Spillane’s Tower in the Grade One novice chase.

“Monty’s Star ran his race at Cheltenham to finish fourth in the Gold Cup and he has come out of the race really well. We don’t have a lot to find with Spillane’s Tower on their running at Punchestown last year and I hope that we can be bang there again.”

Joseph O’Brien’s King George winner Banbridge, who was seventh at Prestbury Park, completes the line-up.