Spillane’s Tower ruled out of Betfair Chase after Naas defeat

Jimmy Mangan has ruled out a Betfair Chase bid for Spillane’s Tower after an unsuccessful switch back to hurdling in the SIS Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.

The Grade One-winning chaser was the 6-5 favourite to triumph on a seasonal return over the smaller obstacles, but could only finish ninth behind Letos in the Listed heat, beaten a total of 17 and a half lengths.

Mangan does not regard Spillane’s Tower as a true hurdler and was therefore not overly dejected, but his entry for the Betfair Chase on November 22 is unlikely to be pursued as he feels the race will comes too soon.

“He’s just not a hurdler. He never was and he jumps hurdles the same way he jumps fences and makes a proper shape over them,” said Mangan.

“I thought he would come on a bit for the run, but I didn’t think he would be as far back as he was. But, look, Monty’s Pass or Stroll Home never won a hurdle race.

“A lot of my good horses never won a hurdle race but were a different horse altogether when they saw a fence. I would say this fella is the same.

“He won’t go to Haydock for the Betfair Chase. That would come too soon for him now. We might go back to the John Durkan, maybe, but we’ll see.”

While Spillane’s Tower failed to sparkle, Letos (11-1) showed plenty of heart in the finish for trainer Tony Mullins and his jockey son Danny, seizing the lead at the final obstacle.

The Nagger Reidy made him battle but Letos triumphed by a length and a half, with Staffordshire Knot a further neck back in third.

“I think there is more to come, he’s only five and he’s a huge horse. He might bring us to where we dream of going,” said Tony Mullins.

“He seems to be just a natural jumper. He’s already run over fences in Auteuil which has given him an eye for where to put his feet.

“Danny said he did everything perfect, only idled when he got to the front.

“We don’t know where we’re going because he’s handicapped over fences as well.

“I said to the owner before the race that if he’s not the real one that I think he is, he won’t win. He has to win this one to be the real one that I believe he is.

“He’s nearly 17.2 (hands high) and he’s only five. I have big dreams.”

When asked if the Coral Cup could be a target, Mullins added: “Or the Pertemps, we’ll have to discuss that. I ride him out myself at home and he feels like a horse that wants three miles.

“We’re just hoping to get something nice along the way, our eventual plan is chasing and that’s where I’d have the real big dreams.”