JP McManus-owned Spillane's Tower out of Cheltenham Gold Cup

It was decided that the ground was too quick for the Jimmy Mangan trained eight-year-old so he was withdrawn at 11am.

OUT: Spillane’s Tower is a non-runner in Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. Pic: Carson/PA Wire.

Spillane’s Tower is a non-runner in Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase.

Trained by Jimmy Mangan, the eight-year-old was viewed as a lively outsider for the Cheltenham Festival feature but, despite 10mm of rainfall falling overnight, the ground was still considered too quick for him to take his chance and he was withdrawn at 11am.

He is the second high-profile JP McManus-owned horse to be taken out of a major race this week after Fact To File was denied the chance to defend his Ryanair Chase crown on Thursday.

The absence of Spillane's Tower means a field of 10 will now go to post in the Gold Cup at 4pm with Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie, and The Jukebox Man vying for favouritism.

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