McCoy Hoping For Exotic Improvement

Tony McCoy is hoping Exotic Dancer will be back to his best when he takes on his old adversary Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding finished 20 lengths behind Paul Nicholls' ace when the pair were second and third behind Monet's Garden at Aintree last month.

Yet that performance was way below the form he showed when runner-up behind the Betfair Million hero in the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup last season.

Exotic Dancer did, however, show remarkably improved form from his first to his second runs last November when he landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup just five days after trailing in a distant second to Turpin Green at Carlisle.

'He didn't jump that well (at Aintree) but we'd be hoping it was just a similar sort of performance that he put up this time last year when he went to Carlisle,' McCoy told At The Races.

'We've got a very good horse to beat in Kauto Star. As I've said all along, he is a super horse but every horse is beatable.

'There's no point going out there thinking a horse is unbeatable. He (Kauto Star) was probably a little bit disappointing at Aintree but he looked probably as though he needs further now.

'He's still a very good horse and he's the horse we've all got to beat.'

However, McCoy admitted he would be keen to team up with Wichita Lineman at Ascot at the weekend, despite that eventuality meaning he would miss the ride on Exotic Dancer.

Both horses are trained by O'Neill but Wichita Lineman, winner of the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, is owned by McCoy's chief retainer JP McManus.

Wichita Lineman could be asked to take on Hardy Eustace and Detroit City in the Coral Ascot Hurdle at 1.50pm, ruling McCoy out off a date with Exotic Dancer 15 minutes later and 198 miles away on Merseyside.

But Wichita Lineman does hold an entry on the Haydock card in the Betfair 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle in which he would have to shoulder top weight.

'I'd be quite happy to ride Wichita Lineman if he runs at Ascot,' said McCoy.

'It'll depend on the ground and if it keeps raining at Ascot and the ground is on the slow side it would be a possibility that he could run.

'It'll depend on the weather and what the trainer thinks. He is a horse that stays very well but coming back in trip might not be too much of a disadvantage in testing ground.

'He's not a slow horse ? he's more a lazy horse than a slow horse.'

(C) PA Sport