Spillane’s Tower

Spillane’s Tower did well to win the two-mile rated novices’ chase at Punchestown on Tuesday. Held up in behind runners early on, behind no more than a moderate pace, fifth of the five runners, he came under a ride as they rounded the home turn, and he was a little short of room at the second last fence. But he kept going forward, he went willingly between horses on the run to the last, jumped the final obstacle a half a length behind Firm Footings, and kept on well up the run-in for Mark Walsh to get up and win by a head, with the first two finishing clear.

It was a nice performance by Jimmy Mangan’s horse, it was a good step forward from his run at Navan last month, when he finished fourth behind three exciting novices in Facile Vega and Inthepocket and Saint Felicien. This was his third run over fences now, and he has progressed with each run. He was a progressive hurdler last season too, he put up his best performance of the season when he finished second behind the talented Monbeg Park in a novices’ hurdle at Punchestown in April, and there is every chance that he can be an even better chaser now than hurdler. Winner of his maiden hurdle over two miles and three furlongs, he showed a lot of pace on Tuesday over the minimum trip and off a moderate pace, but he could be even better when he steps up in trip over fences. He is only five, he has lots of scope for further progression.

Punchestown, 12^th December 2023