Exotic Dancer primed for Kauto Star duel

Exotic Dancer is reported to be in as “good a shape as he’s ever been” ahead of his rematch with Kauto Star at Haydock.

The eight-year-old is an old adversary of the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, having finished behind him on no less than seven occasions over the last two seasons, and gives it another go in Saturday’s Betfair Chase.

Exotic Dancer will be facing off with Kauto Star for the second successive year in the race after pushing him all the way in 2007, eventually going down by just half a length.

Both horses already have the benefit of a run this term with Kauto Star bagging yet another Grade One prize at Down Royal, while Exotic Dancer turned in a highly creditable effort when a close second in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

“He’s in great shape. I was very impressed by Kauto Star at Down Royal, but our horse is in great form,” said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.

“He put up a very good run, particularly for him, first time up and we couldn’t be happier with him.

“Obviously we have got a horse like Kauto Star to get past and on paper it does look like the race is between the two of them as we are only rated a few pounds behind him on our best form.”

The pair last met in the totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree last April, when both had to give best to Our Vic – although Exotic Dancer finished some 14 lengths adrift of the front two in third.

Simpson believes it best to put a line through that run after an interrupted Cheltenham preparation and is anticipating a closer-run affair this time.

“We struggled with him in the spring and I think it was a battle we lost as the horse you saw around Aintree then was not the same horse that ran there last month,” he added.

“He’s in as good a shape as he’s ever been.”