Exotic Dancer takes Chase at Cheltenham
Saturday, 11 November 2006 17:42Exotic Dancer, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy, won the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham.
O'Neill's charge was held up last for much of the contest but McCoy was always sitting confidently aboard the six-year-old and began to make his move down the hill.
The 16-1 chance cruised up to throw down a challenge to Vodka Bleu at the last.
And having taken over, the Sir Robert Ogden-owned gelding stormed to a three-length verdict over the David Pipe-trained 4-1 favourite.
New Alco was third, half a length further in arrears, while Butler's Cabin was 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.'
Ruby Walsh enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at Cheltenham as the Irishman rode a near 68-1 four-timer, while trainer Paul Nicholls also gained a near 22-1 treble.
