Aintree not Cheltenham a possibility for Jack

Noel Meade will not send Texas Jack across the Irish Sea to run at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The trainer is instead toying with the idea of giving his dual Grade Two winner the chance to shine in the Melling Chase at Aintree a month later.

Texas Jack failed to see out the three miles of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, in which he was fourth, but had previously impressed when victorious in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles in January.

The County Meath handler: "There's not a bother on him, but he didn't get the trip in the Hennessy, simple as that.

"He won't be going to Cheltenham, but if we were to cross the water it would be for the two-and-a-half-miler at Aintree."