Spillane's Tower: Profile, Record, Age & Best Races

Cork trainer Jimmy Mangan has unearthed a potential star staying chaser in Spillane's Tower and will be hoping he can navigate a pathway to Cheltenham Festival success in the future.

Spillane's Tower won a pair of Irish Grade 1s as a novice in 2024 and has mixed it with some of the best in the business in the early stages of his career in open company.

Name: Spillane's Tower

Age: 7

Weight: 11st 10lb

Trainer: Jimmy Mangan

Winnings: £193,219

Cheltenham Festival wins: 0

Spillane's Tower race stats

Runs	1st	2nd	3rd
14	5	4	0

Spillane's Tower Age

Spillane's Tower is a seven-year-old gelding by iconic jumps sire Walk In The Park out of the mare In The Habit, who was closely related to German 1m Group 3 winner Cherry Danon.

Spillane's Tower Weight

Spillane's Tower carried 11st 10lb on his most recent start in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, where he finished fifth as Banbridge won for Joseph O'Brien.

Spillane's Tower Record

His career began at Cork in April 2022 when finishing fifth in a maiden hurdle at Mangan's local track and he got his first win on his third start in maiden company at Naas (2m3f, yielding) in February 2023.

He turned his attention to chasing later that year and enjoyed a fruitful first season over the larger obstacles.

A novice chase at Punchestown (2m, soft to heavy) was won in December and he then bagged a Grade 3 back there the following month over 2m3½f.

He beat Blood Destiny that day, though Willie Mullins' runner would have his revenge in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan back down in trip in March 2024.

The pair met for a third time in the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse (2m4f, heavy) later that month and it was Spillane's Tower who prevailed on his first outing in top level company.

At the Punchestown Festival he stepped up in trip once more, this time fending off Henry de Bromhead's runner Money's Star to win the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase over 3m1f as he ended a terrific novice campaign under regular rider Mark Walsh.

He returned for his second season over fences with a hugely commendable second in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown (2m3½f, soft) in November, splitting Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs with Jack Kennedy in the plate as Walsh rode the winner in the same colours.

Off the back of that, Spillane's Tower went off as favourite in the King George at Kempton (3m, good), but his jumping wasn't fluent and he was beaten by just over 17 lengths in fifth as Banbridge won.

Spillane's Tower Next Race

After that Kempton defeat, a reassessment was made and Spillane's Tower is now being aimed at the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, as opposed to the Gold Cup at this stage in his career.

He is currently a 6/1 chance to win the intermediate Grade 1 in the Cotswolds, where he could meet 7/4 favourite Fact To File for the second time this season.

Spillane's Tower Owner and Cost

Spillane's Tower is owned by the legendary Irish businessman and entrepreneur JP McManus, the owner with more Cheltenham Festival wins (74) than anyone else, as well as having three Grand Nationals at Aintree on his CV.

McManus is undoubtedly one of racing's greatest patrons, with a portfolio of horses in training across Britain and Ireland with a wide array of trainers, some household names and some much further down the pecking order, as the Limerick native strives to support jumps racing at every level.

Some of his greatest names include legends of the game like Istabraq and Baracouda, as well Aintree heroes Don't Push It, Minella Times and reigning champ I Am Maximus.

Spillane's Tower Trainer

Based at Conna in Co Cork, Jimmy Mangan is one of the most popular trainers in Ireland. He is widely known for bringing horses through point-to-points to win on the racecourse.

His biggest career success came when Barry Geraghty steered Monty's Pass home to win the Grand National at Aintree in 2003. He also saddled Whinestone Boy to win the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in 2010.

Mangan is the father of respected racing pundit Jane Mangan, a former amateur rider and familiar face to viewers on RTE television and Racing TV.

Spillane's Tower Official Rating

Spillane's Tower has an official rating of 164, with his peak Racing Post Racing coming in the John Durkan this season when he ran to a figure of 166.

Spillane's Tower Prize Money

To date, Spillane's Tower has won £193,219 in prize money for his connections, his biggest cheque being the €75,000 he landed at Punchestown in April 2024.

Spillane's Tower News

After his Kempton disappointment at Christmas, connections decided against leaving Spillane's Tower in the Gold Cup this season.

Mangan believes the Ryanair is the correct target for now, though the Gold Cup ambition is still burning.

"The King George was a funny sort of race. It's a quick track and things happen fast there. He just didn't seem to operate around there," he told the Racing Post.

"He's just a bit young for the Gold Cup yet, it's a year too soon for him. The Ryanair will suit our lad, so hopefully we can get him there in good shape."

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.