Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)

WHAT a time it is for J.P. McManus’ two great sporting passions. A golden era of young hurling talent in Limerick shows no signs of stopping and he also is responsible for some of the most exciting National Hunt performers in the business - that latter point reemphasised in some style thanks to a high-class performance from Spillane’s Power to win the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.

Jimmy Mangan has expertly handled the McManus homebred, who was following up his Grade 1 breakthrough in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse with a three-quarters-of-a-length success over Cheltenham Festival runner-up Monty’s Star. Making his first start beyond two and a half miles, the 5/2 joint-favourite - ridden by Mark Walsh - showed no stamina issues and continued his impressive level of progression to be cut to 16/1 (from 33/1) with the Betfair Sportsbook for next year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In the same market, McManus already has 4/1 joint-favourite Fact To File, 10/1 fourth favourite Inothewayurthinkin, 16/1 chance I Am Maximus and Corbetts Cross, whose odds range from 12/1 to 20/1.

“He looked the real deal when he first came off the lorry to us, and I said ‘if there’s an engine inside that body, we’re away’. Thankfully there is and what an engine he’s got - he has class to burn,” said Mangan.

“We’ve never lost confidence in this horse; he’s only six and hopefully his future is well ahead of him. He dealt with that ground fine but I wouldn’t like to run him on tight ground as he’s a big horse. It was my worry all week and I was delighted to see it rain earlier today.

“We had tried him at two miles but he was telling us all the time that he wanted further. He won at two and a half miles and was always going away at the finish.

“We can dream during the summer now, hopefully all goes well and we’ll be looking forward to the autumn. I was coming near to the end of the road but this really puts me back on the motorway again! All the big days are special but Punchestown is special.”