Gold Cup Still On Dancer Agenda Connections are confident Exotic Dancer will be able to take his place in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup despite last year's runner-up suffering a setback.The eight-year-old, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, has been found to have pulled a ligament in his back.Although the injury has caused him to miss the Letheby And Christopher Chase at Cheltenham, which he won 12 months ago, it is reported to be only a minor problem.'I have just returned from Jonjo O'Neill's yard and the vet has found that Exotic Dancer has pulled a ligament in his back,' confirmed Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden, in a statement issued to PA Sport.'This has caused some bleeding which formed a haematoma. This subsequently put pressure on a nerve which caused him to be so sore.'The good news is that this is a relatively minor problem and will not hinder his prospects of running in the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival meeting.'And we hope to have a run before the Gold Cup, but as you would imagine it is impossible to say when this will be, but it will be as soon as possible.'Exotic Dancer is 10-1 third favourite to go one better in chasing's blue riband on March 14.(C) PA Sport
