Dancer delivers in Lexus

A switch away from Kempton on St Stephen's Day provided Exotic Dancer with the chance to break through at the top level as Jonjo O’Neill’s stable star struck in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Tony McCoy’s mount was going ominously well down the far side of the track and slowly worked into contention before being left in a clear lead as 5-4 favourite Neptune Collonges crashed out at the second last.

Paul Nicholls’ market leader had set out to make all under Ruby Walsh and was himself left out in front when The Listener blundered his way out of the race early on.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup third still held every chance when exiting, but McCoy was only fractionally behind at the time and stormed away once in the lead.

The 4-1 chance kept on strongly and had 20 lengths in hand of 2006 Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition at the line, with Cane Brake a further 10 lengths adrift in third.

Robert Ogden’s winning eight-year-old had six times failed in Grade One company since winning the Paddy Power and Boylesports Gold Cups two years ago, but to his credit finished second and third to Kauto Star in the previous two renewals of the King George VI Chase.

O’Neill said: “He’s run at Kempton in the King George a couple of times and that isn’t his track so we thought we would give this a try.

“After talking to Sir Robert and Barry Simpson (racing manager) we thought this was the best option.

“I’m delighted as the horse has been a little bit unlucky and frustrating over the last couple of years. He deserves that.

“In the past things haven’t gone his way but everything went to plan today.

“He didn’t settle last time at Haydock and we planned to drop him in today. He settled better doing that and that is also how he won his handicaps.

“You never know what would have happened if Neptune hadn’t fallen but you always need a bit of luck and we got ours today.”

Future plans remain undecided but Exotic Dancer was trimmed to 12-1 from 33s with Ladbrokes and the same price from 20-1 with Coral for the Cheltenham Gold Cup – a race in which he finished runner-up in 2007.

Cashmans also introduced him into the Ryanair Chase betting at 8-1.

O’Neill added: “He’s got lots of options but I would like to come back here for the Hennessy and he’s in the Ryanair and Gold Cup at Cheltenham.”

Simpson said: “He has lots of options including the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, which is one of his favourite tracks.

“He might be a better horse at two and a half miles rather than three so we will consider the Ryanair, although we also have Voy Por Ustedes for that.”

McCoy employed exaggerated waiting tactics on Exotic Dancer early on but was delighted for his partner and the trainer to finally net a top-flight success.

He said: “It was brilliant for Jonjo and he could do with a few more horses like Exotic Dancer.

“Before Ruby fell he was just starting to niggle his horse, I was very pleased with the position I was in and was very happy with my horse at the time.”

Neptune Collonges’ departure compounded a fruitless meeting for Nicholls, whose Arkle favourite Tatenen was nailed on the line two days previously.

The champion trainer commented: “The horse is fine and we’ll either bring him back here for the Hennessy or go for the race he won at Wincanton last year.”

Neptune Collonges was left unchanged at 6-1 with Coral for the Gold Cup.