Spillane's Tower can build on recent promise in Cotswold Chase

January 22, 2026

Spillane’s Tower will bid to build on his Punchestown promise in Saturday’s Cotswold Chase.

The eight-year-old was declared for the Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham with Jack Kennedy back on board for the first time since finishing a neck runner-up to Fact To File in the 2024 John Durkan Chase.

In the colours of leading owner JP McManus, Spillane’s Tower has failed to live up to that initial promise shown at Punchestown 14 months ago but his recent effort at the same venue was a step in the right direction.

He was strongly supported in the market when third behind El Fabiolo and Glen Kiln over hurdles on New Year’s Eve, outpaced after two out and plugging on well in the closing stages.

Before that run his trainer Jimmy Mangan had mentioned the son of Walk In The Park was under consideration for the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park, so it’s been quite a significant change of strategy and the Cork handler clearly saw something he liked.

He has looked a tricky sort in recent times with attitude concerns voiced by many, especially following a disappointing run in the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas on reappearance but there were a few positives to take going into 2026.

The ⬜️ show

holds off Spillane’s Tower to lead home a JP McManus one-two in a brilliant edition of the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase.

The new kids on the block in the staying chase division!@punchestownrace | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/pFqV5lTQyv

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 24, 2024

Spillane’s Tower heads for second away day after King George flop

The Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival was also under consideration but connections have opted to take on Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning at Prestbury Park instead.

That rival is among Britain’s leading hopes for the Cheltenham Gold Cup following an easy win in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock in November when Harry Skelton barely had to breathe on his mount.

Spillane’s Tower’s last away day didn’t exactly go to plan, sent off the 11/4 favourite after being supplemented for Kempton’s King George VI Chase on St. Stephen’s Day in 2024 but he could only manage fifth of nine finishers.

Soft ground should be of aid in his bid for a first victory since April of that year when he rounded off a progressive spring with back-to-back Grade 1 wins in Fairyhouse’s WillowWarm Gold Cup and Punchestown’s Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.

History hasn’t been kind to the form of those two races however. He has a long way to go in his hopes of dining at the top table again but time is still on his side and the revival mission is underway, posing the biggest danger to the long odds-on favourite this weekend.