Dual Grade 2 winner Texas Jack bridged a three year gap between wins when landing the Book Online At fairyhouse.ie Rated Chase at Fairyhouse today for trainer Noel Meade and jockey Sean Flanagan.

The son of Curtain Time won six times between 2011 and 2014, including a pair of Grade 2 wins at Leopardstown and Thurles, but had been unsuccessful in 16 races since, admittedly in many high class races.

Today jockey Sean Flanagan produced Texas Jack to challenge in the home straight and the pair went clear at the final fence to eventually beat former Irish Grand National hero Thunder And Roses by six lengths.

Meade was thrilled with the win and later stated “he's come down a lot in the weights but he's never won over further than two and a half miles before today (3m1f). He's been running in Graded races all the time and the drop down in class helped him and it's lovely to see him win.

"He was actually sold to go point-to-pointing to England but the vet wasn’t happy with him!”

He added “he’ll get an entry in the Irish National, and could go next for the Leinster National at Naas - he wants really soft ground."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee