‘I’d like to go to Kempton’ – JP McManus could gatecrash the King George with superstar chaser

1 week ago 13

BILLIONAIRE racing legend JP McManus could yet gatecrash the King George Chase on Boxing Day with one of his superstar stayers.

McManus bagged the 1-2 in last month’s John Durkan Chase with Fact To File seeing off Spillane’s Tower in a thriller.

Spillane’s Tower, right, rang on strongly but was just denied by Fact To File, left, in JP McManus’ green and gold hoops, in the John Durkan[/caption]

Fact To File is now favourite for the Gold Cup – but it’s Spillane’s Tower who could be aimed at one of England’s other landmark races.

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Trainer Jimmy Mangan said his stable star needs ease in the ground to be seen at his best.

And with Fact To File set to stay in Ireland over Christmas, rain in England could see Spillane’s Tower head over for the Boxing Day blockbuster.

McManus said on TV on Sunday: “I’d like to have one of them at least running at Christmas in Leopardstown and we’ll have to talk to Willie (Mullins) and Jimmy Mangan before deciding.

“I’d maybe like to go to Kempton with Spillane’s Tower but he’d like the ground soft and you have to supplement him so you have to make your mind up a week in advance.

‘If he gets his ground he’s right in the mix ‘ – Templegate’s 12-1 King George tip

“The forecast will play a big part in it.

“Corbetts Cross would also like a little juice in the ground, so it’s very hard to say where you are going when you don’t know exactly what the ground is going to be like.”

Spillane’s Tower was instantly cut from 8-1 to 5-1 with some firms after McManus’ comments were shared.

But Sky Bet held the line at 8-1, with Fact To File still the market leader at a best-price 5-2 ahead of 3-1 Grey Dawning.

Dan Skelton said it looked like his Cheltenham Festival hero would skip Kempton after going down second to Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase.

But he reported his stable star to be bouncing in the following days and recently confirmed the plan is still to run at Kempton.

Grey Dawning is capable of going on any ground – while Spillane’s Tower has never raced with ‘good’ in the going description.

His last win – his second Grade 1 – came on yielding ground at the Punchestown Festival over 3m1f.

Grey Dawning and Spillane’s Tower are both rated 165 while Fact To File is up to 169 after his half-length John Durkan win.

It’s impossible to predict the weather this far out and the Met Office’s long-range forecast for Boxing Day is much as you’d expect.

Their prediction reads: “Mainly unsettled conditions appear likely for most, with spells of wind and rain followed by showers affecting most areas but especially the north and northwest of the UK.

“Some sleet and snow is also likely at times, especially on high ground in the north.

“However, there are also some signs that more settled conditions are possible at times, these perhaps most likely across the south late in December or into early January.”

King George Chase odds

2-1 Fact To File (needs supplementing)
3-1 Grey Dawning
6-1 Corbetts Cross, Envoi Allen
8-1 Spillane’s Tower (needs supplementing)
9-1 L’Homme Presse, Hewick
10-1 Il Est Francais
12-1 Banbridge
16-1 bar

More to follow.