Dancer may head straight for Gold Cup

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Last year´s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Exotic Dancer could head to this year´s race without another run.

Connections were forced to swerve the Letheby & Christopher Chase last month after he developed a muscle problem and now Sir Robert Ogden´s gelding could miss the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on February 23rd.

Barry Simpson, the owner´s racing manager, told the Racing Post: "The horse is back cantering. It is going to be tight and, in my view, it is too early to say whether he is going to run (at Kempton).

"We are not pressuring Jonjo (O´Neill) and Jonjo is not pressuring the horse. Jonjo has got to be satisfied the horse is in great shape and ready to run in the Racing Post Chase.

"If he is not, then he will do some racecourse gallops and go straight to the Gold Cup."

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