Noel Meade’s Texas Jack beat Baily Green to land the Grade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles yesterday, but it was the third horse, Last Instalment, that was the real eye-catcher.

Champion-jockey Davy Russell completed a treble for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud on Very Wood, Band Of Blood and Shrapnel in Galway yesterday.

Gold Cup winning jockey Barry Geraghty was seen at his strongest when landing the featured Irish Stallion Farms Novice Handicap Chase Final on the Paul Nolan-trained Panther Claw in extremely testing ground in Navan yesterday.

The Ruby Walsh-ridden Zuzka continued Willie Mullins’ remarkable run of success when justifying 4/9 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Maiden Hurdle at a Sligo meeting which attracted a surprisingly big crowd, with Sligo in Connacht Football final action in Roscommon.

The jockey struck by a horse as he went to aid a friend at the weekend admits he has received ‘plenty of stick’ from his racing colleagues since the incident.

SUCCESSFUL with His Excellency in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown, trainer Gordon Elliott was on duty at Down Royal where he registered a double with Lord Redsgirth and Rocky Wednesday.

WILLIE Mullins ended 2007 on a high when, in addition to winning with O’Hana at Tramore, he saddled Snowy Morning and C’est Ca to triumph at Punchestown yesterday.

Danny Barry, who worked for the late Gordon Richards for over nine years but is now based near Dundalk, had Irish eyes smiling as he completed 65-1 double with the well-backed pair Black Chalk and Bogus Dreams at Musselburgh.

SWEET WAKE, two from two over flights, is now the clear favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.