Stars align for Dancing Jeremy Today's Thurles card got under way with a handicap chase over two and a quarter miles, to which there was a dramatic conclusion with Dancing Jeremy (14s into 10/1 before the off) proving a fortunate winner under Philip Donovan. Backed into 7/2 favouritism, River Vale was in front and travelling well approaching the final fence but lurched at it and came down with the pursuing Broomfield Bijou getting tangled up with the faller. Having been quite badly impeded, Broomfield Bijou was soon headed by Dancing Jeremy, who had looked held in third before the last, and the 11-year-old grey went on to post a length and a half success. It was a sixth career victory for owner Frank Reynold’s stalwart, whose previous victory had come in last season’s Tim Duggan Memorial Chase at Limerick’s Christmas meeting. Winning trainer James Fahey said "Last season lingered on for him and I had him in for the Mayo National (late May) but he didn't run and, when he came back in, he picked up a niggly injury which set us back. "Fair play to Padraig Roche (trainer) who took him and swam him for a while, which kept the wheels turning, but he was very lucky to get here today as the lorry broke down. We had to swap him over on the motorway and just got here on time. "Heather (partner) was travelling with Dancing Jeremy, but her lorry broke down and it wasn't able to go over 30km per hour. Luckily, I was travelling behind with the later runners, so was able to swap and he got here just on time. "We were fortunate winners, but they are there to be jumped and he has been a savage servant for us. He won a Listed race last year, and our young lad Charlie is only four but walks him around the yard and loves him. "He has an attractive mark over hurdles, so we might go that way now." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
