McManus team to pause before plotting plan for John Durkan duo

With the winner's dual Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate Galopin Des Champs back in third, the form could hardly be stronger and McManus' racing manager Frank Berry is looking forward to seeing what both horses can achieve over the rest of the campaign.

"We were delighted with both horses, it was a cracking race. Both horses jumped well and finished out the race nicely, so you couldn't be happier with them," he said.

"I thought the third horse (Galopin Des Champs) ran a blinder over the trip. He's the one they all have to beat and he ran a cracker, but we're delighted with our horses and hopefully they'll come out of the race good."

Whether the team are able to split up Fact To File and Spillane's Tower next time remains to be seen, with the Savills Chase at Leopardstown the obvious target for both.

The King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day is an alternative and would give McManus the option of splitting his aces, but neither horse is entered at this stage.

Berry added: "We're going to sit on it for a week or 10 days, see how they come out of the race and make some decisions for around Christmas then.

"We're not getting carried away, we'll just see if the trainers are happy with both of them and see where we want to go."

Meanwhile, Mystical Power is set to take on Sir Gino in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

With Constitution Hill ruled out, Nicky Henderson has shuffled his pack and confirmed that Sir Gino — who was set to embark on a career over fences — will instead make the trip north to Gosforth Park.

The Seven Barrows handler has saddled a record eight winners of the Grade One contest, including claiming five of the last seven renewals, with My Tent Or Yours, Buveur D'Air, and Epatante all on the roll of honour.

The biggest threat to last season's star juvenile hurdler Sir Gino appears to be the Willie Mullins-trained Mystical Power, who will bid to become the first Irish-trained winner since Identity Thief nine years ago.

Owned in partnership by McManus, John Magnier, and Rich Ricci, the son of Galileo out of the brilliant racemare Annie Power won four of his five novice starts last term, rounding off his campaign with back-to-back Grade One wins at Aintree and Punchestown.

Having sidestepped a strong renewal of the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last weekend, Mystical Power is being readied for a trip across the Irish Sea.

Berry added: "That's the plan, Willie is very happy with him, so the plan, all being well, is to go to Newcastle.

"The Morgiana looked very hot, so this was another option for him and he goes there in nice form."

On Sir Gino stepping in to replace the sidelined Constitution Hill, Berry added: "No matter who drops out, there's always one there.

"It'll be a good race, but we're looking forward to getting our horse out."

Henderson expects to have a clearer idea of what direction Sir Gino will take for the rest of the season after Saturday, admitting that if he were to emerge triumphant, he could end up having to clash with Constitution Hill, who he hopes will be back on track in time to contest the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

"You're trying to avoid clashes until they're absolutely necessary, let's just see what happens on Saturday," the trainer told Racing TV at Kempton on Monday.

"Mystical Power is a big protagonist in this category, so it's going to be very interesting.

"Sir Gino is grand. He had a spin this morning, Nico came and rode him and that went well.

"We'll school him over hurdles on Wednesday I would think. He's just got to jump four hurdles and he's an intelligent horse, so I'm sure he'll get the hang of what we're doing, even if we're trying to confuse him!"