Classy Dancer struts his stuff

With his nemesis Kauto Star enjoying a much-deserved rest, the stage was clear for Exotic Dancer to shine in the glorious spring sunshine at Aintree and that he did with a virtuoso display in the Betfair Bowl Chase.

Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old has had to play second fiddle to his big rival this season in both the King George and the Gold Cup so thoroughly merited his 13-length romp in this Grade Two feature.

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 Robert Ogden-owned gelding travelled ominously well four out and was still tanking along in second gear when McCoy asked him to seal the deal two fences from home.

O’Neill’s star cantered away to secure second place in the Racing UK Order Of Merit – behind Kauto Star – and was heavily eased crossing the line streets ahead of My Will.

Totesport cut the winner to 8-1 from 10s for next year’s Gold Cup, the same price offered by Coral and Ladbrokes, with William Hill slightly shorter at 7-1.

O’Neill said: “He has done nothing except go the right way since Carlisle at the start of 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 so to go out on a winning note is grand.

“He won’t go to Punchestown. He is in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown but 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. He didn’t jump the first circuit for some reason but he had the best form in the race 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.”

State Of Play was a further six lengths adrift and his trainer Evan Williams said: “He simply wasn’t good enough on the day but he has run his heart out.

“That will be it for this season now. I don’t know where he will start off next year.

“He’s won a Hennessy Gold Cup and will always have a special place in my heart.”

Connections of last home Turpin Green reported the race had come too soon for the Gold Cup third.