Punchestown round-up: Spillane's Tower scales new heights

Spillane's Tower made it back-to-back Grade One victories for trainer Jimmy Mangan with a determined display in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Best known as the trainer of 2003 Grand National hero Monty's Pass, Mangan was claiming his first top-level success in 16 years when this JP McManus-owned gelding landed the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday, with Conna Castle his only previous Grade One winner in the same race in 2008.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time, Spillane's Tower was a 5-2 joint-favourite for his latest big-race assignment and came out on top after a titanic tussle with market rival Monty's Star.

Jimmy Mangan's Spillane's Tower (5-2JF) followed up recent Fairyhouse success when winning the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at the @punchestownrace Festival