Mangan eyes Foxrock or Prestbury Park for Spillane's Tower

Jimmy Mangan took plenty from Spillane's Tower's staying-on third over flights in Punchestown last month as he primes the eight-year-old gelding for Leopardstown or Cheltenham next.

The son of Walk In The Park was unplaced when favourite for the 'Brown Lad' Handicap Hurdle on seasonal reappearance at Naas in November, but came on from the run when third behind an impressive El Fabiolo at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

Mangan said: “His hurdle run the last day was encouraging and he’s definitely on the way back.

“He’s in the Gold Cup at Leopardstown (Dublin Racing Festival) and there is also the Cotswold Chase in Cheltenham. He could go for one of those races, but I’ll have to talk to Frank (Berry) and see where they want to go.”

Spillane's Tower is a double Grade One winner over fences.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee