Racing: Contact Dancer has been the subject of an ante-post gamble to give a the Irish challenge a rare victory in the totesport Chester Cup tomorrow.
The seven-year-old, trained by Charlie Swan and the mount of Kieren Fallon, has been cut to 8-1 with the sponsors, having been backed from 14-1 to 12-1 yesterday and down to 9s earlier today.
Formerly trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston, he won the 2004 Cesarewitch and was third behind Anak Pekan in this race 12 months ago. He has since joined Swan and is fit from a spell over timber.
"He's very well and is in good order," said the Co Tipperary handler of the seven-year-old, whose owner Michael Watt is also keen to take this valuable heritage handicap over an extended two and a quarter miles.
Six years ago Watt saw his colours carried by the Dermot Weld-trained Ansar fail by just a short head to peg back Bangalore.
"Good ground would be fine, he wouldn't want it too firm," said Swan. "He was third in the race last year, he has a nice draw (four) and a nice pilot on him. I'm hopeful of a good run."