Exotic Team Look To Geraghty

Barry Geraghty is in line to deputise for the injured Tony McCoy on Exotic Dancer in the Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

It would be the second time this season Geraghty has come in for the ride on the Jonjo O'Neill-trained chaser.

He was in the plate when Exotic Dancer got within half a length of Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock when McCoy was claimed by owner JP McManus to ride at Ascot on the same day.

'I haven't spoken with Jonjo yet but I believe Barry Geraghty will be available. He's ridden him before, so he's very much in the frame,' said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.

Simpson also revealed that Star De Mohaison, trained by Paul Nicholls, would have an entry in this weekend's Cheltenham feature but would not run if the ground was testing.

'It's a possibility we might have run him as well, but the ground is going to be pretty testing,' Simpson continued.

'We will probably look for something else, but that doesn't mean we won't be entering him as well and seeing how the week goes.

'I've got to discuss it further with Paul but I suppose he's unlikely to run because of the ground unless something changes drastically in the week.

'He's got three other alternatives ? the Aon Chase, the Irish Hennessy and the race at Wincanton that was the Countrymen's Chase.

'They would be the three probable alternatives if he didn't go next week.'

Star De Mohaison, who finished third over hurdles at Cheltenham three weeks ago in his first race for 13 months, is 25-1 for the totesport Gold Cup with the sponsors, while Exotic Dancer trades at 10s.

(C) PA Sport