Tulsa Jack wins the Midlands National

The Noel Meade trained Tulsa Jack landed the feature race of the season at Kilbeggan, the Midlands National Handicap Chase.

Successful in the Cork National last November, the seven-year-old son of Urban Ocean finished a good eighth in the Irish National at Fairyhouse in March.

He was third in the Killarney National in May, and was last seen finishing fifth in the Connacht National at Roscommon.

Available at 10/1 this morning he opened on-course at 7's before going off a 6/1 chance.

Settled in mid-division by Jonathan Moore, he improved into a closer fifth with a circuit to race. He went second after three out, and hit the front after the next, keeping on well from there to score by sixteen lengths. Carriganog was sent off the 4/1 favourite and he finished second under Barry Geraghty for Joseph O'Brien.

Noel Meade also trained the third, and that was Tom Horn (16/1) who was another six lengths back under Phillip Enright.

Noel Meade said afterwards: "I'd say the blinkers made him jump that little bit quicker and snappier.

"The last day he never got into the race. The easier ground probably actually suited him better than real fast ground.

"He's won here before and that's always a help.

"That's Jonathan's five pound claim gone now. We weren't going to let him ride anymore after tonight to keep it for Road To Riches but it's gone now.

"I don't know what we'll do now. I'll have to talk to Michael (O'Leary, owner of Road To Riches)."

The winner is owned by the Grand Alliance Racing Club of which former Taoiseach Brian Cowen is a member.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson