Texas Jack to skip Cheltenham

Texas Jack is unlikely to run at the Cheltenham Festival despite his win in a Grade Two novice chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Trainer Noel Meade is eyeing up the Powers Gold Cup and the Punchestown and Fairyhouse Festivals instead.

The seven-year-old had previously finished third in the Drinmore and Topaz Grade One novice chases and is really beginning to get his act together over fences.

"He was always a bit light and skinny but he's starting to fill out a bit - hopefully he's improving as well doing that," Meade told At The Races.

"He's come out of the race really well, I would think it's unlikely that he'd travel to Cheltenham, I think he'll stay at home and he might go for the (Dr PJ) Moriarty Chase and I would hope the Powers Gold Cup would come into the equation as well.

"I don't think he'll cross the water. Punchestown will come into it and we'll have him for the end of the season - there's a couple of nice races he can run in."