Spillane's Tower 'all guns blazing' for King George - but Jimmy Mangan fires ground warning

Spillane's Tower is the new favourite for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase with some bookmakers after Jimmy Mangan's stable star was supplemented on Friday for the Kempton showpiece, with connections eager to take their chance providing they are satisfied with the ground.

The six-year-old was one of the stories of last season, landing two Grade 1s for Mangan, including the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse which provided the trainer with his second success at the top level 16 years after Conna Castle gave him his first in the same race.

He followed up at Punchestown on his first effort over further than three miles when repelling the challenge of Monty's Star and ran a huge race on his reappearance last month when forcing the Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File to pull out all the stops in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

Spillane's Tower will travel to Kempton with some confidence in the camp, but his participation will be contingent on the ground not being too quick when connections walk the track on the morning of the race on December 26.

• Supplemented Spillane's Tower new King George favourite - plus Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth entered in blockbuster Christmas Hurdle 

"We're going over, hopefully all guns blazing," said Mangan. "I know there's a dry forecast but we'll walk the course beforehand and if we're happy enough there are no firm patches, the plan is to take part."

Mangan reports Spillane's Tower to have came out of his Punchestown assignment in fine order and believes the step back up to three miles will suit as he bids to further enhance his Gold Cup credentials.

He said: "He came out of Punchestown great and it has brought him on plenty so there'll be no excuse. I went over to Kempton with Conna Castle before and hopefully it will suit him. He won't be found wanting for speed.

"I'd probably prefer a big, galloping track as that's why he loves Punchestown, but I won't be making any excuses regarding the course anyway. I think the step back up in trip will definitely suit."

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Owned by JP McManus, Spillane's Tower was one of three supplemented for the King George on Friday alongside Charlie Hall Chase winner The Real Whacker and French dark horse Juntos Ganamos.

There are 14 runners still in contention, with Spillane's Tower as short as 3-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook, although William Hill, Coral and race sponsors Ladbrokes go 4-1.

Dan Skelton: 'I'm confident Grey Dawning can improve again'

Grey Dawning, the favourite with Coral and Ladbrokes, heads the home team for Dan Skelton, with last season's electric Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner Il Est Francais third in the market at a general 5-1.

Defending champion Hewick is among a strong provisional Irish challenge which also includes Banbridge, Envoi Allen and Corbetts Cross, also owned by McManus.

Skelton believes there is more to come from Grey Dawning and said he would not swap his stable star for any of his rivals when he competes outside of novice company for only the second time. The King George emerged as a target after the seven-year-old recovered quickly from his reappearance at Haydock last month, when he was beaten by two lengths on soft ground in the Betfair Chase.

Grey Dawning (left): Dan Skelton confident there is more to come from festival scorerCredit: Mark Cranham

"We're climbing the ladder and I don't think we're as high as we can go yet," said Skelton, in a Zoom call organised by the Jockey Club. "Haydock was his first run out of novice company and he improved – I think the handicapper said by 7lb or 8lb, which is quite an assessment on that ground. I just think he's really good and wouldn’t swap him for anything. I'm confident he can improve again."

Grey Dawning was sent off the 15-8 favourite in the Betfair Chase under Harry Skelton after an impressive novice season, in which he landed the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. However, after making a mistake at the last, he could not catch back-to-back winner Royale Pagaille in the closing stages.

“We had him as fit as we’ve ever had him for Haydock," said Skelton. "Every horse is entitled to improve for a run but the way he acted afterwards suggested he had really improved, which was a big surprise. I was expecting him to be tired and lethargic for a week or two afterwards before we started slowly building back up. If he hadn’t told us he was ready, we wouldn’t be doing this."

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30 Kempton, December 26)

Ladbrokes: 100-30 Grey Dawning, 4 Spillane’s Tower, Il Est Francais, 5 Banbridge, 8 Envoi Allen, 10 Corbetts Cross, 12 Hewick, 14 The Real Whacker, 16 Juntos Ganamoss, L’Homme Presse, 25 Bravemansgame, 33 Royal Pagaille, 66 Ahoy Senor, 100 General En Chef

Read more:

Supplemented Spillane's Tower new King George favourite - plus Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth entered in blockbuster Christmas Hurdle 

'Kempton is tailor-made for him' - confidence behind French star Il Est Francais grows ahead of King George bid 

Christmas racing guide 2024: day-by-day overview - plus ITV Racing schedule 

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