Conna's Jimmy Mangan eyeing another National success with Spillane’s Tower 

Twenty three years after his career-defining success in the Grand National, Jimmy Mangan is eyeing another momentous victory on Merseyside with his latest stable star, Spillane’s Tower.

The County Cork handler shot to prominence in 2003 after training the heavily-backed Monty’s Pass to win the Aintree spectacular under a then fresh-faced Barry Geraghty, sparking scenes of not old wild celebration in the famous winner’s enclosure but also back in the trainer’s home village of Conna, where signs commemorating the success still remain.

“It does seem a long time ago in fairness,” said Mangan.

“Monty’s Pass had been over the course having been second the year before in the Topham, so I knew he could jump the fences and we had great confidence in him.” 

That confidence was evident in the betting, with Belfast-based bingo hall owner and gambler Mike Futter – leader of the five-man Dee Racing Syndicate that owned Monty’s Pass – backing him at odds of 66-1 early in the new year and continuing to do so until he went off at 16-1 on the day.

The then 10-year-old delivered in spectacular fashion, bounding 12 lengths clear of the chasing pack on his favoured good ground to give Mangan the thrill of his life and earn his owners a small fortune in the process.

“A local syndicate owned him and they sold him to the syndicate in Belfast, which was headed by Mike Futter,” said Mangan.

“They were prepared to travel to Cheltenham and Liverpool. We knew we had a National horse all right after that run (in the Topham).

“We went over to Cheltenham, and he was fifth in the Mildmay of Flete Chase, and a fortnight later we went back to Liverpool. He was a tired horse for the Topham Trophy, and he finished second to a horse of Willie Mullins’ (Its Time For A Win).

“I said to the lads that day ‘back him for the Grand National next year – we’ll come back and win it’.

“They backed him before the weights came out from 66-1 all the way down to 16-1. Everything went to plan on the day.” The trainer added: “I think he (Futter) won over £1million sterling the year he won it. It was an unreal day.” 

It is a measure of how much the National has changed over the subsequent two decades that with a rating of 139 Monty’s Pass would not even make the cut these days, while his preference for a fast surface would also be an issue.

In fact, Mangan feels ground conditions may even have cost his charge a second National success in 2004, when he finished fourth behind Amberleigh House while conceding upwards of a stone to the three that finish in front of him.

Mangan said: “In 2004 I told Barry Geraghty he was in super form, better than last year I said. He finished fourth behind Amberleigh House, who was third behind us the year before.

“I said to Barry afterwards ‘has the weight beaten him’ and he said ‘no, the over-watering of the ground did’. Monty wanted it like the road.

“In the village I come from the signs are still up ‘Home of Monty’s Pass’, so hopefully they can put another one up!” 

The horse tasked with delighting the Conna faithful is a multiple Grade One winner who provided Mangan with his first winner in Britain since Monty’s Pass claimed Aintree glory when landing the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January.

The undoubted star of a string that barely reaches double figures, the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old was subsequently an eleventh hour withdrawal from the Gold Cup after the connections had well-publicised misgivings about the Prestbury Park ground.

While waiting on the green light from his owner, Mangan feels his charge is more than capable of making his presence felt in the world’s most famous steeplechase provided the Aintree turf is deemed suitable.

“Everything is good and at the moment the plan is to go to Liverpool,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to having another go at the National – he’d be a classier horse than Monty’s Pass, no doubt about it.”