King Delighted He Did It His Way

Alan King's late decision to run My Way De Solzen in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy paid off in spades as his beloved horse earned the trainer a second consecutive victory in the race.

King appears to have an affection for the phenomenal seven-year-old above and beyond last year's winner Voy Por Ustedes and he followed up his 2006 Ladbrokes World Hurdle triumph with a clear-cut success over the luckless Fair Along.

Punters had been uncertain whether to side with My Way De Solzen (7-2), 100-30 favourite Fair Along or Don't Push It (4-1), who played his own part in the two-mile novices' crown when falling at the second-last in front of Fair Along, badly hampering Richard Johnson's mount in the process.

In essence, My Way De Solzen was a most meritorious victor and he travelled beautifully for Robert Thornton just off a vicious pace set by Jack The Giant before tackling the leader around the turn for home.

Hindered by a false start that delayed proceedings, Fair Along had yards of ground to make up, but he had not been allowed to dictate at the front and did not seem to be moving as sweetly as usual.

He closed the margin to five lengths, although it was not really diminishing at the post, while Jack The Giant ran a brave race to be a length back in third.

King had debated long and hard whether to go for the Arkle or tomorrow's Ryanair Chase and did not make the call until walking the Cheltenham course on Sunday.

'It's a great relief, that's what I'm feeling more than anything and it was a joy to watch ? he is a very special horse,' said the Wiltshire-based trainer.

'I try to be calm but he leaves me a nervous wreck ? he does it every time.

'We always wanted to run in this race and I thought it was slow enough ground on Sunday. His work has been as good as ever in recent weeks.

'This horse is the best I have trained and probably the best I'll ever have.'

Naturally enough, the focus turned to his future assignments and King laughed: 'I've got all sorts of problems for next year. Do we go for the Queen Mother or the Gold Cup? Here we go again!

'I thought ideally his trip would be two miles four or five, but everything he does is class and that was a special performance to drop from three to two miles.

'I don't know if he'll run again this season ? at the moment I don't really care!'

King's dilemma was reflected by the immediate bookmaker reaction, with My Way De Solzen quoted at 8-1 by sponsors totesport for the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, while he is the same price with William Hill for next year's Seasons Holidays-sponsored Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Philip Hobbs felt the false start may have affected Fair Along, reporting: 'He got bumped at the start and lost his position. If they had let him go first time he might have been all right but he was always making up ground.

'If he's OK there's no reason not to run him later in the week (in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle on Friday).'

Nicky Richards was delighted with Faasel, who could have been any price at halfway but boxed on into fourth.

Richards said: '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 all right. Otherwise we might wait for the Future Champions at Ayr.'

Twist Magic was another to come to grief when still well in touch at the notoriously tricky second-last, Another Promise was a one-paced fifth, while Lennon was his usual headstrong self and weakened into seventh.

(C) PA Sport