The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup betting markets sprung a surprise on punters last night when Exotic Dancer, one of the few horses capable of challenging the seemingly invincible Nicholls’ duo of Denman and Kauto Star, was removed from the books of several bookmakers.

Exotic Dancer has been drifting in the odds tables for several weeks as the results of withdrawals from a series of races which might have proved his class, amongst these the Racing Post Chase and the Letheby & Christopher Chase. Lack of racing had seen Exotic Dancer drift as far as 40/1 amongst some bookmakers.

Since being removed from the betting the Cheltenham Gold Cup rumour mill has been doing overtime, and the latest speculation is that Exotic Dancer’s absence from the racetrack in recent months is the result of a back injury suffered after the King George VI Chase on boxing day.

If a back injury does keep Exotic Dancer out of the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup the irony won’t escape his designated rider, Tony McCoy. McCoy rushed himself through recovery following a back injury in the hopes of being fit enough to mount a serious challenge on Exotic Dancer at the Cheltenham Festival.