Jimmy no match for Jack

Tulsa Jack got off the mark over hurdles on his first try over two and a half miles, taking the opener at Limerick, the Ladies Day 12th October Maiden Hurdle, under Davy Condon for Noel Meade.

The five-year-old son of Urban Ocean finished a well-beaten fourth on his last start at Bellewstown and he was sent off the 9/4 second favourite this evening having touched 6/4 this morning, opening on-course at 2/1.

After racing mainly in fifth he made progress after the third last and hit the front before the next.

Davy Condon never had to get serious aboard the Grand Alliance Racing Club owned gelding as he went on to win by two and a half lengths. Jimmy Shan went off the well backed 9/10 favourite, 13/8 this morning and from evens on-course, but he had to settle for second under Jonathan Burke for Michael Barry, while Railway Benefit (8/1) was nineteen lengths back in third under Ben Dalton for Harry Kelly.

Noel Meade said afterwards: "It has taken us a while to get things sorted with the horses. I have a well at home and it was contaminated. It took us a long time to discover the problem but it was an issue with the water, and I was drinking it myself!

"They got sick around February and there seemed to be no sense or reason as to the way they were running.

"We tested and tested and eventually found the problem and we’ve changed wells now.

"Sean Boylan (former Meath football manager) also came in and gave them some herbs to help pick them up and now we’ve had four winners in just over a week!

"You probably won’t get a weaker maiden and I can’t see him being raised. He’ll probably go for a handicap now."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes