Solzen Rules The World

My Way De Solzen landed the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the hands of Robert Thornton.

Alan King's six-year-old arrived on the premises at the third-last and sprinted clear on the run to the final flight.

Johnny Murtagh covered his every move on Golden Cross (5-1) and challenged hard up the run-in but had to settle for second, beaten a head by the 8-1 winner.

Mighty Man, sent off the 4-1 favourite, was a further four lengths away in third, but former dual winner Baracouda had to settle for fifth under Tony McCoy.

King told Racing UK: 'We were still undecided about the ground but we let him take his chance. It was a beautiful ride and I'm just delighted for the whole team.

'The ground isn't soft out there and I'm just hoping he is OK in the morning. We were always reluctant to run him on quick ground because he is a seriously good horse.'

Thornton also revealed his reservations about the quicker conditions.

'He's not normally at his best in those conditions but I knew I was in with a chance when I could here them all slapping and kicking in behind me,' he told Channel 4 Racing.

'It was just a case of keeping my head down and keeping him going to the line.'

A downcast Murtagh admitted: 'I am sick and I haven't been as sick for a long time. I thought I had it and he jumped the last well. I really thought he was going to win.

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

'I am just very disappointed.'

Michael Halford, trainer of Golden Cross, said: 'So near yet so far. But I am thrilled for both the horse and the jockey. 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 or at Punchestown. Johnny was disappointed ? he doesn't like being second because he puts everything into it.

'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.'

His rider Richard Johnson said: 'I was happy until the second-last but I just couldn't get to the front two. He never stopped but they just got away.'

Francois Doumen, trainer of the great Baracouda, winner of the race in 2002 and 2003 and runner-up the last two years, said: '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.

'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.'

? PA Sport