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Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase
13/03/07

My Way de Solzen
(Robert Thornton, nearside)
© racing-images.co.uk

1st (6) My Way de Solzen 7-2
2nd (8) Fair Along 10-3 Fav
3rd (10) Jack The Giant 14-1
13 ran
Also: 16-1 Faasel 4th

Alan King does it My Way
13/03/07

My Way De Solzen could be the best horse Alan King will ever train - and that’s the view of the man himself.

The seven-year-old carried Choc Thornton to an emphatic five-length victory in last year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle over three miles, and today he dropped back in trip to win the biggest race of the season for two-mile novice chasers.

King said: “I try to keep calm most of the time, but I can never cope when I run this horse. It doesn’t matter which race, and I was probably ten times worst when we had committed to this event [rather than the longer Royal & Sunalliance Chase].

“It’s been a pretty nerve-wracking 48 hours and I’m just glad we got it right. I just said to someone I hope to train for a long time - this horse is the best I’ve trained so far and he’s probably the best I’ll ever have. That was a special performance to drop back from the three down to two - I’ve got all sorts of problems for next year now. Is it Queen Mother or Gold Cup? Here we go again.”

Most bookmakers think it will be the totesport Gold Cup. That race’s sponsors make My Way De Solzen an 8-1 chance, while he is 10-1 with Betfred and 14-1 with Cashmans.

Asked why he opted for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, King said: “I thought the ground was slow enough and I made the right decision, because if the sun keeps shining we could be in trouble by Thursday. His work has been as good as ever in recent weeks.

“I can’t take any credit for his jumping. He’s French, and they do jump. He was wasted over hurdles really, although he got in a bit tight to the second-last today. Choc gave him a beautiful ride and I’m obviously thrilled, but it’s relief more than anything that’s kicking in now.”

“I'm delighted he's won. I was trying to cope quite well today, and I bumped into Michael Dickinson who told me I was the biggest prat ever for going over two miles [with My Way De Solzen]! I'm thrilled for the whole team, it's wonderful. He's always showed so much speed - he's a class horse.”

Thornton declared: "I was slightly worried two out because it's a desperate fence, and I panicked a little bit, but we got away with it. He picked himself up and did it great. Alan is a great trainer."

FALSE START PROVES COSTLY FOR FAIR ALONG AND FAASEL

Connections of both Irish Independent Arkle Chase runner-up Fair Along and fourth-placed Faasel felt the race’s false start hindered their horses’ chances.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Fair Along, said: “He got bumped at the start and lost his position. If they had let him go first time he might have been alright but he was always making up ground.

“If he’s OK there’s no reason not to run him again later in the week (in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle on Friday). We’ll see how he comes out of this.”

Nicky Richards, who saddled Faasel, added: “He ran a good race, especially given that it was only his second start over fences. Tony (Dobbin) said that he had a beautiful position coming in first time but was a bit flat footed second time around. As a result he was just three lengths further behind than he wanted to be the whole time and always had ground to make up.

“I’ll step him up in trip and might go up to three miles with him, possibly at Aintree if the ground’s alright. Otherwise we might wait for the Future Champions’ Novice Chase at Ayr.”