My Way de Solzen
Encyclopedia
My Way De Solzen is 8 year bay gelding racing horse, who began his racing career trained in France by A. Lamotte D'Argy.
.
He made his British debut on November 15 2004 at Leicester, where he won a 2 mile Class D Novices hurdle under jockey, Robert Thornton
. After winning his second race a month on at Bangor, My Way De Solzen was stepped up in class, where he contested the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle
at Sandown, finishing fifth. In his debut season in Britain (2004-2005), he went on to contest top Novice Hurdle races at both the Cheltenham
and Aintree
Festivals, where he finished a distant 15th in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
and a 6 length 2nd in the Mersey Novices Hurdle, respectively.
at Chepstow
in December 2005. In his prep run for the Cheltenham Festival
, he came home a comfortable 9 length winner of the National Spirit Hurdle
at Fontwell. He then went on to contest the 2006 World Hurdle
at Cheltenham, where he was sent off an 8/1 chance. He stayed on strongly up the hill to deny the Mick Halford trained Golden Cross by a head, and in the process securing his first victory at the Cheltenham Festival
. In his final appearance of the season, he finished a 7 length second to Mighty Man in the Liverpool Hurdle
at Aintree.
His trainer, Alan King
, then decided to embark on a novice chasing campaign that season, and My Way De Solzen began with a 14 length victory in a Lingfield Beginners Chase. He was stepped straight up in class, where he contested the Grade 2 Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown, where he was sent off an odds on 4/7 chance, but could only finish second to Fair Along. He, however regained the winning thread in his next two races, winning Grade 2 Beginner's Chases at Cheltenham and Haydock respectively. Following this, he was sent off the 7/2 2nd favourite for the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, where he was a most impressive 5 length winner under jockey, Robert Thornton
. After a long season, Alan King put his gelding away for the season and began to prepare him for the 2007-2008 season.
and started off in the 2007 Betfair Chase
, where he was unable to trouble the odds on favourite Kauto Star
and eventually finished 5th. Connections, however, were not too disheartened and were sure their gelding would come on for the run when he contested the Grade 1 King George VI Chase
at Cheltenham. He was sent off 13/2 3rd favourite behind odds on favourite Kauto Star
and Exotic Dancer. But he never managed to get into the race and was eventually pulled up.
Alan King then reverted him back to hurdles for the remainder of the season, but My Way De Solzen was still unable to regain the winning thread, finishing 2nd in the National Spirit Hurdle
, and 5th and 6th respectively in the World Hurdle
at Cheltenham in March and the Aintree Hurdle
in April.
2004/5
He made his first start in 2 mile 1 furling chase at Dieppe, where he was pulled up. After his second race, he was sold to new connections and sent to England to be trained by Alan KingAlan King (horse racing)
Alan King is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at Barbury Castle stables near Wroughton, Wiltshire....
.
He made his British debut on November 15 2004 at Leicester, where he won a 2 mile Class D Novices hurdle under jockey, Robert Thornton
Robert Thornton (jockey)
Robert "Choc" Thornton is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King....
. After winning his second race a month on at Bangor, My Way De Solzen was stepped up in class, where he contested the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle
Tolworth Hurdle
The Tolworth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and...
at Sandown, finishing fifth. In his debut season in Britain (2004-2005), he went on to contest top Novice Hurdle races at both the Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
and Aintree
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
Festivals, where he finished a distant 15th in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
and a 6 length 2nd in the Mersey Novices Hurdle, respectively.
2005/6
It was the following season (2005-2006), where My Way De Solzen began to shine. He began the season finished 2nd to St. Matthew in a Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in November. Then, when stepped up to 3 miles for he first time, he ran out a 5 length winner of the Long Walk HurdleLong Walk Hurdle
The Long Walk Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are fourteen hurdles to be jumped...
at Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
in December 2005. In his prep run for the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, he came home a comfortable 9 length winner of the National Spirit Hurdle
National Spirit Hurdle
The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped...
at Fontwell. He then went on to contest the 2006 World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
at Cheltenham, where he was sent off an 8/1 chance. He stayed on strongly up the hill to deny the Mick Halford trained Golden Cross by a head, and in the process securing his first victory at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
. In his final appearance of the season, he finished a 7 length second to Mighty Man in the Liverpool Hurdle
Liverpool Hurdle
The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped...
at Aintree.
2006/7
My Way De Solzen reappeared in the 2006-2007 season in the Grade 2 John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby in October. He was sent off a 4/9 chance, but could only finish second when trying to give 8 pounds in weight to the winner, Redemption.His trainer, Alan King
Alan King (horse racing)
Alan King is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at Barbury Castle stables near Wroughton, Wiltshire....
, then decided to embark on a novice chasing campaign that season, and My Way De Solzen began with a 14 length victory in a Lingfield Beginners Chase. He was stepped straight up in class, where he contested the Grade 2 Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown, where he was sent off an odds on 4/7 chance, but could only finish second to Fair Along. He, however regained the winning thread in his next two races, winning Grade 2 Beginner's Chases at Cheltenham and Haydock respectively. Following this, he was sent off the 7/2 2nd favourite for the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, where he was a most impressive 5 length winner under jockey, Robert Thornton
Robert Thornton (jockey)
Robert "Choc" Thornton is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King....
. After a long season, Alan King put his gelding away for the season and began to prepare him for the 2007-2008 season.
2007/8
He began the 2007-2008 season, with connections dreaming of the Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
and started off in the 2007 Betfair Chase
Betfair Chase
The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, where he was unable to trouble the odds on favourite Kauto Star
Kauto Star
Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
and eventually finished 5th. Connections, however, were not too disheartened and were sure their gelding would come on for the run when he contested the Grade 1 King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
at Cheltenham. He was sent off 13/2 3rd favourite behind odds on favourite Kauto Star
Kauto Star
Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
and Exotic Dancer. But he never managed to get into the race and was eventually pulled up.
Alan King then reverted him back to hurdles for the remainder of the season, but My Way De Solzen was still unable to regain the winning thread, finishing 2nd in the National Spirit Hurdle
National Spirit Hurdle
The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped...
, and 5th and 6th respectively in the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
at Cheltenham in March and the Aintree Hurdle
Aintree Hurdle
The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
in April.