LEOPARDSTOWN REVIEW:Jonjo O'Neill's Exotic Dancer has won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown after capitalising on a late fall by favourite Neptunes Collonges that left the door open for Tony McCoy to make the running and win comfortably ahead of War of Attrition. Tom Taaffe's Cane Brake was third.
McCoy settled Exotic Dancer at the rear of the field from the off as Ruby Walsh took up a prominent position on 5-4 market leader Neptune Collonges.
He set a sound pace up front as McCoy was happy to bide his time and let Exotic Dancer sit last of the nine runners before making stealthy progress in the second half of the race.
Coming to the second last, Neptune Collonges was still in front and appeared to have something still to give as Exotic Dancer, War Of Attrition and Cane Brake were lined up to challenge.
However, Neptune Collonges crashed through the obstacle, leaving Exotic Dancer in front and travelling best of all.
McCoy just had to keep him going up the straight and after he cleared the last, O'Neill's charge was barely troubled to come home 20 lengths clear of the tiring War Of Attrition.
The Listener, a third British-trained challenger and winner of the race in 2006, was an early casualty after crashing out at the second fence.
Sir 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.
Catch Me justified 4-6 favouritism as he just held off the renewed challenge of Whatuthink in the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle.
Earth Magic set out to make all but as the pressure began to tell, John Cullen made an early strike for home aboard Whatuthink.
He was in front coming to the final two flights but Andrew McNamara was ominously still aboard Catch Me, who was stepping up to three miles following victory in the Hatton's Grace last time.
Catch Me was in front at the last but Whatuthink rallied gamely on the rail and although the winner slightly drifted across in the finish, he held on by a head.
Trafford Lad suffered a surprise defeat as Casey Jones just edged him out in a thrilling finish to the Knight Frank Novice Chaseat Leopardstown this afternoon.
Dusty Sheehy's charge was sent off the 11-10 favourite and he was still travelling well under Tom Doyle as he turned for home in the Grade One event.
As both Siegemaster and Bringbackthebiff began to toil, it looked as though Trafford Lad would pull clear and maintain his 100 per cent record over fences.
However, 25-1 shot Casey Jones was answering Paul Carberry's every call on the run-in, digging deep all the way to the line.
The Noel Meade-trained gelding eventually prevailed by half a length from Trafford Lad with Siegemaster plugging on for third.
"His win may be a surprise to a lot of people but it isn't to me," Carberry said afterwards. "I thought he would run well and this better ground really suits him. He won a beginners' chase on heavy ground and he didn't like it.
"He got into the race down the back with his jumping and he really stuck his neck out.
"I thought turning in that I had a bit up my sleeve but Trafford Lad is a tough horse and I didn't get past him as easily as I thought I would."
Sheehy felt his horse had lost little in defeat, adding: "He got there too soon.
"He got the three miles no problem but hit the front too soon."
Earlier, Willie Mullins's hot streak continued as the champion trainer saddled his seventh winner of the Christmas period when Kempes took the O'Dwyers Stillorgan Orchard Maiden Hurdle.
The former Frances Crowley inmate overcame a couple of errors in the closing stages under Ruby Walsh to put his best foot forward on the run-in to oblige as the 6-4 favourite.
Mullins said: "His previous experience over hurdles no doubt helped and he did it well.
"There are no immediate plans, but the way he stayed on after knocking down the last and losing his impetus suggests he will get further — he could be a horse for the Ballymore Properties' at Cheltenham."
Walsh completed a quick-fire double on his second ride of the festive meeting as he squeezed up the rail to take the Mongey Communications Novice Handicap Hurdleaboard Ross Accord.
Walsh had missed the opening two days riding for Paul Nicholls in England, but has wasted no time since arriving in his native land and drove the 11-2 favourite home by a length.
Winning trainer Tony Martin said: "He is a real good-moving horse and wants good ground. It was too heavy for him last time at Punchestown.
"I'll give him a break now and bring him back for Fairyhouse and Punchestown in the spring. I'll keep him going over the summer too and look at Galway."