Spillane’s Tower set for hurdles run before possible tilt at Betfair Chase

Spillane’s Tower is set for a spin over hurdles at Naas this weekend ahead of a possible tilt at the Betfair Chase.

Jimmy Mangan’s stable star was due to make his seasonal reappearance in last weekend’s Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, but unsuitable ground in Northern Ireland led to his withdrawal.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has been entered for the SIS Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas on Sunday and while he has not run over the smaller obstacles since the spring of 2023, Mangan is keen to get his campaign under way.

He said: “He’ll probably have a run on Sunday because he’s gone a bit rusty and needs a race. The ground was too dry for him up there (at Down Royal), I wouldn’t chance him on that.

“If he runs at Naas he plenty of time to recover from that and if performs well we may head over to Haydock. We’re happy with him and we’d like to get started as Christmas won’t be long coming.”

Spillane’s Tower is one of 16 initial entries for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 22, with the sponsor making him their 4-1 second-favourite behind last year’s runner-up Grey Dawning, who is the 11-8 market leader to go one better on his return to Merseyside.

The Venetia Williams-trained Royale Pagaille has won last two editions of the Grade One feature and is a 5-1 shot to become the fourth three-time winner along with Bristol De Mai, Cue Card and the great Kauto Star, who won the race four times between 2006 and 2011.

Grey Dawning’s trainer Dan Skelton has also entered 2022 victor Protektorat (6-1), who sidestepped Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby after the rain failed to materialise. Other hopefuls include Ben Pauling’s Handstands (10-1) and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Cheltenham Festival and Irish Grand National hero Haiti Couleurs (12-1), who is due to make his reappearance over hurdles at Newbury on Thursday.

Simon Tonge, General Manager at Haydock Park, said: “We’re really pleased to see a good number of entries for the Betfair Chase, with five Grade One chase winners among them.

“It's a great endorsement for what is a fantastic race and the first leg of The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown. There are some worthy, popular and celebrated names on the Betfair Chase roll of honour and we’re all excited for this year’s race on November 22nd.”