Spillane’s Tower can deny Jango Baie Gold Cup compensation at Aintree
BRIGHT SPARK: Brighterdaysahead, left, chases home Lossiemouth in last month's Champion Hurdle. She bids to go one place better at Aintree on Thursday. Picture: Tom Maher/Inpho
Should the ground be deemed sufficiently soft, Spillane’s Tower might be able to get the better of Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie in the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase on day one of Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
Trained by Jimmy Mangan, the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old was an 11th hour withdrawal from the Gold Cup last month and the fact he was still left in the National at the final declaration stage suggests there has to be a risk he might not get the green light to run on Thursday.
However, should he do so the fact he missed Cheltenham might prove a blessing in disguise for a horse who got his career back on track when winning the Cotswold Chase in stylish fashion at Cheltenham in January.
More will be required here but the suspicion is Spillane’s Tower is open to further improvement. Should he find it, he can give hot favourite Jango Baie plenty to think about.
While no match for the imperious Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup, Jango Baie ran a fine race at Cheltenham, finishing 10 lengths in front of third-placed Inothewayurthinkin.
If he runs to that level again, the Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old will be a mighty tough nut to crack but he disappointed at this meeting last year on the back of winning the Arkle at Cheltenham and there has to be risk that history will repeat itself up against a fresh horse in Spillane's Tower.
The Bowl is one of four Grade Ones on a cracking card with the William Hill Aintree Hurdle featuring a rematch between Champion Hurdle second and third Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion.
Just half a length separated the pair behind Lossiemouth at Cheltenham and Brighterdaysahead is narrowly favoured to confirm the form.
The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old was an impressive winner over course and distance as a novice and her 7lb mares’ allowance ought to make her hard to beat if she brings her A-game.
It could be a good day for the Irish as Selma De Vary has strong claims in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.
The French recruit split Narciso Has and Mange Tout on her first start for Willie Mullins at the Dublin Racing Festival before finishing fourth in the Triumph Hurdle.
Maestro Conti and Minella Study were in front of Selma De Vary at Cheltenham but the filly is fancied to improve sufficiently to turn the tables on her rivals at Aintree.
The William Hill Manifesto Novices' Chase looks a match between Lulamba and Koktail Divin.
Lulamba surrendered his unbeaten record over fences when third in the Arkle, shaping like a horse who would be better over further than two miles.
A day later, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Koktail Divin found an extended three miles beyond him in the Brown Advisory so he too ought to be far more comfortable over two and a half miles.
It could be a cracking battle but, at the prices, a chance is taken on Koktail Divin coming out on top.
Away from the Grade One action, Barton Snow can complete the Cheltenham-Aintree double by winning the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, Javert Allen has decent each-way claims in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase, while Princess Day can maintain her unbeaten record in the mares’ bumper that closes the card.
On the domestic front, there’s Flat fare at Gowran Park where the Joseph O’Brien-trained Johanna Walsh is fancied to get the better of Cape Primrose in the Irish Injured Jockeys Fillies Maiden.
When the pair clashed at Thurles last October, Cape Primrose got the better of the argument in a race won by Green Carrera.
However, that was Johanna Walsh’s debut and she may be able to improve past the Ballydoyle filly.
Elsewhere on the card, the Dermot Weld-trained Wild Sapphire can make it sixth time lucky in the Thomastown Maiden.
1.45 Selma De Vary
2.20 Koktail Divin
2.55 Spillane’s Tower (Nap)
3.30 Barton Snow
4.05 Brighterdaysahead (NB)
4.40 Javert Allen
5.15 Princess Day
1.45 Maestro Conti
2.20 Lulamba
2.55 Jango Baie
3.30 Unexpected Party
4.05 The New Lion
4.40 Sans Bruit
5.15 Nan’s Choice
4.30 Suir Monad
5.05 The Blue Panther
5.40 Johanna Walsh (Nap)
6.15 Kepler
6.45 Wild Sapphire (NB)
7.15 Magna Gee Gee
7.45 Granite Bay
4.30 Stellar View
5.05 Master Garvey
5.40 Cape Primrose
6.15 Diligo
6.45 Mano Chicago
7.15 Starting Monday
7.45 Hold See
