Vodka plunge thwarted by Dancer
Tony McCoy and Jonjo O’Neill thwarted an ante-post plunge on Vodka Bleu as Exotic Dancer made an emphatic return to form in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Turned out just five days after a disappointing 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 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 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 Blue over the last and ran to strongly up the run-in under a power-packed drive from the champion jockey.
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.
“We will take him home now and see what is available. We might come back here next month for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.”
Ruby Walsh, who rode six winners at the Open meeting, enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at Prestbury Park on Saturday as the Irishman rode a near 68-1 four-timer – while trainer Paul Nicholls also gained a near 22-1 treble.
Favourite backers got off to a great start as Alan King’s Katchit gained top honours in the opening Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
And just over 30 minutes later, the Cheltenham faithful had further cause for celebration as Denman justified odds of 4-6 to remain unbeaten over fences in the Jim Brown Memorial Novices’ Chase.
Nicholls secured the second leg of his treble, and Walsh the third leg of his four-timer, when Ogden’s Star De Mohaison (6-4 favourite) made a winning reappearance in the Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle.
Sent off at 2-1, Tipperary All Star was the third consecutive favourite to oblige and provided Walsh with the second win of his four-timer when scoring in the Letheby And Christopher Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The concluding Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase went to 9-2 co-favourite My Will, who completed a great day for Walsh and Nicholls.
Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson were the men to follow at Cheltenham on Sunday with a near 66-1 treble spearheaded by Detroit City’s brilliant win in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner, sent off the 6-5 favourite, stirred the enthusiastic Cheltenham crowd as he gave his rivals lumps of weight and a terrific beating.
Johnson steered a wide course coming down the hill on last month’s Cesarewitch hero and Terry Warner’s popular grey never looked in any danger of defeat.
Hobbs’ gelding was able to slow up slightly jumping the last before powering up the hill to win by 14 lengths from Ameeq (8-1). Caraman (50-1) was another three lengths back in third.
Hobbs said: “I’m sure he will stay further but he’s effective at two miles so we will stay at this trip and go for the Champion.
“After that performance I would say that handicaps are out and he’ll run next in the Boylesports International back here next month.
“I was concerned about the ground. I even discussed with Terry about taking him out as he’s never run on soft before but we thought we would give it a go to find out.”
Hobbs and Johnson set the ball rolling when Fair Along made all to claim the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase.
“We almost sold him to America during the summer as he would be ideal for their fast-ground hurdles, but it is a good job we didn’t,” said Hobbs.
“We will have to aim him at the Arkle now, but he doesn’t want a bog through the winter so we will have to pick and choose our way along, and he will probably have a break at some point.”
Johnson then pulled off a noteworthy coup aboard Hobbs’ Massini’s Maguire, who showed real guts to defeat the well-regarded Wichita Lineman by half a length in the Gideon Kasler Novices’ Hurdle.
On the level, Henry Cecil landed his first Group One race for six years when Passage Of Time won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.
The Khalid Abdullah-owned filly was supplemented by connections and rewarded their faith in grand style with a rousing success.
Passage Of Time accelerated clear of runner-up Soldier Of Time, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Kieren Fallon, in the 10-furlong contest.
She kept on strongly to hold her nearest rival by three-quarters of a length under Richard Hughes.
Cecil, whose Beat Hollow was his last Group One triumph in the Grand Prix de Paris in 2000, said: “This is lovely. I’m very pleased for the Prince (Abdullah) as it should ensure he’s leading owner in France.
