Easy for Jack in opener

Texas Jack retained his unbeaten record with a cosy success in the opening novice hurdle at Clonmel.

The 8/13 favourite cruised to a cheeky success in the two-and-a-half-mile contest under a typically confident Paul Carberry ride.

Noel Meade 's charge settled off the pace last of the four runners and he had plenty of ground to make up going into the turn.

Carberry appeared to be trying to organise his mount rounding the bend but he soon closed the gap as they headed for home.

The Curtain Time gelding move upsides Make A Track after the second last and it only looked a matter of pressing the button.

He missed the last slightly but never had to come off the bridle, easing ahead on the run to the line for an effortless length-and-a-quarter success.

The winner had been successful on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse last month and had also made a winning racecourse debut in the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown back in May.

"Originally I was going to run him over three miles but he had to go for a novice hurdle somewhere so I decided to come for this. He's doing things right, " said Meade.

"I was half worried at the top of the hill but I knew Paul knew what he was doing. I think he'll be better on a better track.

"He handles testing ground and he's getting stronger all the time. I think it was a fair horse of Charlie Swan's that he beat there."

The winner does tend to carry his head a shade high and Meade said:- "I can't find anything wrong. We had his teeth checked."

Navan is next on the cards either for the Grade Two Monksfield Novice Hurdle on November 27th or the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle on December 18th.