Exotic Dancer was a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 bred National Hunt

National Hunt racing

National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...

 racehorse, who was trained by Jonjo O'Neill

Jonjo O'Neill

Jonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...

. He had a famous rivalry with Kauto Star

Kauto Star

Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....

 but never beat him.

In April 2005, Exotic Dancer finished seventh in the World Hurdle

World Hurdle

The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...

 at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...

 and as a 50/1 outsider finished third in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle

Aintree Hurdle

The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...

 at Aintree

Aintree Racecourse

Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....

. In December 2005 he had his first win in a novice chase at Cheltenham.

Exotic Dancer had a successful 2006/07 season with three victories at Cheltenham, in the Paddy Power Gold Cup

Paddy Power Gold Cup

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped...

, Boylesports.com Gold Cup

Boylesports.com Gold Cup

The Boylesports.com Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...

 and an 18 length victory in the Letheby and Christopher Chase

Cotswold Chase

The Cotswold Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...

. However the horse finished second in both King George VI Chase

King George VI Chase

The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...

 and Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...

 both times behind Kauto Star

Kauto Star

Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....

. He ended the season with victory at Aintree where he won the Betfair Bowl

Totesport Bowl

The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...

.

In the 2007/08 season Exotic Dancer ran five times, on each occasion beaten by Kauto Star including the King George VI Chase where Exotic Dancer finished third.

Exotic Dancer began the 2008/09 season with two place finishes before completing a 20 length victory in the Lexus Chase

Lexus Chase

The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...

 in December 2008, the horse's first win in 20 months.

A contender to win the 2009 John Smith's Grand National, Exotic Dancer was pulled out to concentrate on other races.

Exotic Dancer's final race was totesport Bowl at Aintree on Thursday 2 April 2009. He started 3/1 second favourite and finished second to Madison Du Berlais. Shortly after the race, Exotic Dancer died of a heart attack

Myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...

 in his box stall

Stall (enclosure)

A stall is a small enclosure of some kind, usually less enclosed than a room.-Market stall:A market stall is usually an immobile temporary structure erected by merchants to display and shelter their merchandise...

.