Solzen does it his Way
Last season’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner returned to the scene of his finest hour and was magnificent when taking the Aquanti Group ‘Dipper’ Novices’ Chase under Robert Thornton.
The 4-9 favourite was stepping up in trip to two miles and five furlongs after his defeat by Arkle favourite Fair Along over the minimum distance and was spring-heeled throughout his front-running display.
After going well clear from the second-last, he inflicted a first chasing defeat on Turko, who was 17 lengths adrift in second.
Trainer Alan King said: “That was lovely – even I enjoyed it!
“He fills you with confidence and can do it both ways – from behind or from the front and he just pops away.
“He loves the soft ground and is very straightforward.
“He will have two entries at the Festival – one in the Ryanair Chase and one in the Arkle, but he definitely won’t run in the SunAlliance.
“If the ground was soft in March I might run him in the Arkle, but we will have to see nearer the time.”
Coral cut My Way De Solzen to 7-1 from 8s for the Arkle, the same price as VC Bet, while Blue Square and William Hill both offer 8-1, Stan James 9-1 and Totesport 10s.
Cashmans make him 9-2 from 6s for the Ryanair event.
Too Forward has excelled himself at the track on more than one occasion without getting his just desserts, but he finally collected when going one better than last year in the Unicoin Homes Chase.
Timmy Murphy always had the 4-1 shot travelling sweetly in the Listed contest and after going on three fences out, the 11-year-old pulled away up the hill for a comfortable success, with Nozic seven lengths adrift in second.
