Solzen on top of the world

My Way de Solzen picked up the torch for a new generation of staying hurdlers as he defied fears over the drying ground to land the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Giving trainer Alan King and jockey Robert Thornton their second victories of the meeting, the 8-1 chance held the late thrust of Golden Cross and the multi-talented Johnny Murtagh by a head.

Baracouda, the best staying hurdler in the last decade but getting no younger at 11, looked in with a chance on the home turn but kept on at only one pace to finish fifth.

Blue Canyon, stablemate of Baracouda, made the early running and took the 20-runner field along at a strong pace in company with Crystal D’Ainay.

But as they weakened four out the complexion of the race changed dramatically to leave more than half a dozen of the huge field in with a shout.

Favourite Mighty Man was another to make headway but nothing could come up the hill as strong as the front two.

With the ground drying out in a freezing wind, King admitted he had been in half a mind to withdraw the winner.

He said: “We were still undecided about the ground but we let him take his chance. It wasn’t what I wanted but it wasn’t quite firm enough to take him out.

“I am just pleased we had a drop of rain here on Tuesday lunchtime because after another dry and windy night it is going to be plenty quick enough tomorrow.

“Robert had walked the course this morning and asked if I was sure. I know he wanted me still to run but that’s the advantage of having a stable jockey like ’Choc’ who always puts the horses first.

“It was a beautiful ride and he can be chuffed that he has beaten a Derby-winning jockey.”

King, who could run the winner again at Aintree or Punchestown if the going is suitable, said there was no hurry to make a decision over whether to to stay over hurdles or switch to steeplechasing next season.

William Hill quote the winner at 8-1 for a repeat victory in 12 months’ time.

Murtagh said after the race that his first season riding over jumps will likely transpire to have been his last.

“I’ve enjoyed it but I said beforehand that it could well be my last time,” he said.

“I am heading out to Dubai tonight to ride there tomorrow and I will be concentrating on the Flat now.

“I am sick we were beaten today and I haven’t been as sick for a long time. I thought I had it and he jumped the last well.

“He is a great horse and has done everything well – he didn’t hit one hurdle and he jumped very big.

“I really thought he was going to win and I am just very disappointed.”

Trainer Mick Halford added: “Johnny said to me that he didn’t want to do it any more but I was pleased to be able to keep the partnership together and just sorry it didn’t quite work out – so near yet so far.

“It was a great effort but take nothing away from the winner.

“The two of them jumped the last great and it was a ding-dong battle and a head can go any way. Johnny thought in a few more strides he was there.”

The pair appeared to come close together on the run to the line and asked if he thought his charge may have been intimidated, Halford added: “You would have thought he may have been but one of them had to come out on the wrong side and unfortunately it had to be us.

“He could possibly be seen at Aintree in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One (John Smith’s Melling Chase) or at Punchestown.

“After three miles, a head isn’t very much. The way he jumped and stayed you would have to think about coming back next year.”

Henry Daly, trainer of Mighty Man, said: “He’s run well. I’m on record as saying it was probably a year too early and I think maybe it was. I think that’s the problem, just a year too early.”

After Moscow Flyer’s connections decided to bow out 24 hours earlier, there was no talk of ’the r-word’ after Baracouda’s defeat.

Francois Doumen, the trainer of the winner of this race in 2002 and 2003 and runner-up the last two years, looked lost as he headed to the small area reserved for unsaddling the unplaced horses.

“If he needs soft ground to win perhaps he is not the horse he was a few years ago but he has done what was expected and has run a very good race,” said Doumen.

“We will wait and see what to do with him and I would hate to make a decision (about retirement) without talking to JP McManus.

“We will take a look at him tomorrow – he has returned with a cut on his left hind so we will have to see how that is.

“He has run a great race but has always been first or second and this is the first time I have had to come and collect him from the back and I feel sorry.”

Holy Orders was put down after fracturing his left hind leg in the race.

McManus played up his winnings from the first race by being one of the few punters to take a chance with 50-1 shot Kadoun in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle.

However, McManus had “mixed feelings” as one of his other runners in the race, Olaso suffered a fatal injury.

The field had to bypass the stricken horse on their way to the turn into the straight where Kadoun, trained by Michael O’Brien, belied his odds in the hands of 3lb claimer Tom Ryan, keeping Hordago at bay by a length and half, with Oodachee three and a half lengths away third.

It was the eighth winner of the meeting for the Irish, but their only one of the day.

McManus said: “I have mixed feelings a little bit with everything that has happened.

“I thought Kadoun had a bit of a squeak and it’s great for Tom – he’s a good rider.

“I had to be reminded today he was in the race to be truthful. It’s my second 50-1 winner of the race but I had a little bit on this fella which helps.”

Ryan added: “He was always travelling and jumped well. I only had my first Festival ride on Tuesday.”

Trainer Ferdy Murphy and amateur rider Richard Harding enjoyed their second winner of the meeting when Hot Weld gamely saw off Beantown’s late charge to win the Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase.

Successful with one 33-1 shot You’re Special in Wednesday’s Kim Muir Chase, Hot Weld struck at the same odds in this gruelling contest over four miles and a furlong.

Harding always had his mount at the head of affairs and set sail for home a long way out while several of his fancied rivals, including Basilea Star, came down.

Wolf Creek looked a big danger turning in but his effort petered out and Beantown made Hot Weld pull out all the stops. The leader would not be denied and held on by a neck, with Far From Trouble just a length away in third.

Harding, 24-year-old younger brother of northern jump jockey Brian, said: “I was very happy to have one yesterday but to have two is amazing.

“Ferdy told me to be handy. They went no gallop so I was quite happy to bowl along in front.”

Murphy said: “The horse stays all day – he’ll get five miles so I told Richard just to be positive on him. It worked out. He stays, he gallops and he had a good man on top. What more do you want? This boy is a bit special.

“The horse must have fast ground and he may go for the Scottish National, but it’s possible he might be put away for the summer. Down the road, he’s going to be a very good horse.”