'I didn't expect him to do it as well as that' - big pot for James Fahey as Jeremy dances home

The feature handicap of Limerick's week, the Listed Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase, went to the James Fahey-trained Dancing Jeremy, who put up a bold, front-running performance under Philip Donovan from 1lb out of the handicap. 

The grey hardly saw another rival as Donovan kept something in reserve from the turn into the straight, galloping on resolutely to win by six lengths from favourite La Malmason. 

Fahey said: "I didn't expect him to do it as well as that. He was in at Fairyhouse over hurdles earlier in the month but I took him out because I thought the ground was a bit too tight.This race was always the plan but I would have liked to have got a run into him.

"We might get a bit adventurous now and try and qualify for that Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Hurdle at Punchestown, but we'll leave our options open. Today was the day. He loves that trip and the ground was grand for him."

Demand looks exciting

Suggestions that Willie Mullins had "gone at the game" proved to be much exaggerated as the day went on, and there may well be a new star at Closutton in Final Demand, who ran out an impressive winner of an admittedly weak 2m5f maiden hurdle.

Ridden by Danny Mullins, the son of Walk In The Park, a €230,000 purchase as a three-year-old and winner of his sole point-to-point, was keen the whole way, but the manner in which he powered clear to win hard held by 15 lengths showed he has an engine.

The rider said: "He is a massive horse and hopefully he has the potential to have the engine to match it. I knew at this trip that he had plenty of class, so I wanted to keep my powder dry. A few good jumps put him in position leaving the back straight and it was plain sailing from there. He has class and I think he could drop back in trip too. He has options."

Paddy Power cut him to 16-1 (from 40) for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and to 20-1 (also from 40) for the Turners Novices' Hurdle.

Read these next:

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'He's similar to Majborough' – Mullins has high hopes for Kaid D'Authie as novice defies drift to enter Cheltenham picture 

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