Dancer Excels In Star's Absence

Exotic Dancer's rags-to-riches story reached new heights on Thursday as Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old cruised home in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree.

Twice this season Exotic Dancer has chased home the imperious Kauto Star but, in his absence, O'Neill's charge proved himself a star in his own right.

Having been beaten on his seasonal bow at Carlisle, Exotic Dancer has risen through the ranks, taking a couple of big handicaps at Cheltenham before making his mark at the very top level.

His jumping was somewhat clumsy during the first circuit but Tony McCoy kept a cool head and anchored the 6-4 favourite at the rear of the five-runner field before taking much closer order leaving the back straight.

The Sir Robert Ogden-owned gelding travelled ominously well four out and cantered away to secure second place in the Racing UK Order Of Merit ? behind Kauto Star, also his nemesis in the King George and Gold Cup.

He was heavily eased crossing the line 13 lengths ahead of My Will and totesport cut him to 8-1 from 10s for next year's Gold Cup, the same price offered by Coral and Ladbrokes, while William Hill are slightly shorter at 7-1.

O'Neill said: 'He has done nothing except go the right way since Carlisle at the start off the season. It has just been a pity Kauto Star has been around.

'It is great to see a horse hold his form like that and he was entitled to win and show what a good horse he is.

'The ground was quite quick and they went a fair gallop which is why he might have made a few mistakes early on, but he did settle into a nice rhythm.

'He has met a great horse in Kauto Star the last couple of times he has run so to go out on a winning note is grand.

'He won't go to Punchestown and while he is in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown, we will have to see how he comes out of this and how the ground is later in the month.'

Betfred cut Exotic Dancer into 6-1 from 25s for the end-of-season showpiece on April 28.

McCoy added: 'He was very impressive and I had no doubt if he got round in one piece, and showed any of his form, he was going to win.

'He's got loads of class. Kauto Star is the superstar everyone said he was but we look forward to having another go at him next year.'

Andy Stewart, owner of the Paul Nicholls-trained My Will, said: 'He's run a lovely race considering it was the wrong track and there's no doubt he'd have liked more cut in the ground.

'The Gold Cup form has been franked and we have a problem now ? do we run with a big weight in the Betfred Gold Cup or perhaps go off level weights at Punchestown?'

Our Vic cut out most of the early running but weakened into third, finishing 12 lengths behind My Will.

His trainer David Pipe said: 'He's run a good race ? he was fourth in the betting but he's finished third and there are no excuses really.

'There is nothing else for him now this season so we will put him away.'

(C) PA Sport