Dancer Glides To Power Glory

Tony McCoy and Jonjo O'Neill foiled an ante-post gamble on Vodka Bleu as Exotic Dancer stormed to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Turned out just five days after a woeful performance at Carlisle, Exotic Dancer proved a totally different proposition at Prestbury Park and bounded clear up the hill to beat David Pipe's 4-1 favourite by three lengths.

Pipe's father, Martin, dominated recent renewals of the £110,000 contest, having struck on seven different occasions, and the Pond House team fancied their chances of another victory with Vodka Bleu.

Despite being off the track for 714 days, the seven-year-old had been supported all week and after opening 9-2 on course, was sent off half a point shorter.

The legions of Pipe supporters cheered on Timmy Murphy when he sent the market leader clear at the third-last.

Murphy was soon at work in the famous David Johnson colours, however, and McCoy surged towards him aboard the 16-1 Sir Robert Ogden-owned winner.

Having made up a considerable amount of ground from the rear over the final couple of obstacles, Exotic Dancer shot past Vodka Bleu over the last and ran on strongly up the run-in under a power-packed drive from the champion jockey.

New Alco was another to finish strongly and was half a length back in third, with O'Neill's Butler's Cabin three and a half lengths further adrift in fourth.

O'Neill said: 'He's a bit of a character but we've always thought he was a good horse.

'He has ran a blinder and I am delighted with him. AP gave him a great ride and it was his choice to ride him like that.

'He's ran some really good races but has ran some awful races too. Things have to go right for him and he has had his luck here.

'He's had a few problems but he's done really well here and won well.

'We thought he was going to run well at Carlisle but it was a Mickey Mouse race really and he came home from that really fresh so we decided to run him.

'He hasn't had many going days and we were just hoping he would win ? we're delighted with him.

'We will take him home now and see what is available. We might come back here next month for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.'

McCoy added: 'I said to his owner coming out that at Carlisle I was very disappointed that he didn't finish his race so I said I was going to ride him round and ride him to run well.

'And if I give him a bad ride I'll accept that I gave him a bad ride but I'd rather have him finish his race.

'I don't think I gave him a good ride, I think it just happened for him.'

Pipe was delighted with the effort of the runner-up and said: 'Vodka Bleu ran a fantastic race and it looked like he would win at the second-last and turning in but AP was creeping closer and he obviously improved for the race at Carlisle.

'It's brilliant to be back on track with the horse, especially as he ran so well, and Tamarinbleu ran well in sixth.

'Vodka Bleu jumped brilliantly and was always travelling but was beaten by a better horse.

'The Hennessy is a possibility and we will see how he is.'

Johnson added: 'The winner ran five days ago and you wouldn't think he is the same horse but good luck to Sir Robert.

'I'm thrilled to bits with Vodka Bleu and he might go to the Hennessy. The initial signs are fine so we will see how he is.

'He was as fit as a flea and jumped well but was beaten by a better horse.

Ferdy Murphy, trainer of third-placed New Alco, said: 'They didn't go a gallop and he wants three miles really but he stayed on right to the line.'

(C) PA Sport