King's Way is to go for Arkle if going stays on heavy side

Festival change of heart: King
14 April 2012

Heavy going at Cheltenham has prompted Alan King to have second thoughts about running plans for My Way de Solzen, his brilliant novice chaser who was destined to go for the Ryanair Chase.

The seven-year-old, well beaten by Arkle Chase favourite Fair Along at Sandown in December, is now likely to be rerouted to that race to take on the only horse to beat him over fences. Fair Along is a best-priced 5-2.

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Given that My Way de Solzen won the Ladbrokes World Hurdle last year, it was extraordinary to witness him failing to get up the Sandown hill that day and King believes the race may have come too soon after his Lingfield win just 10 days earlier.

Anyone doubting King's change of heart received reassurance from Betfair where My Way de Solzen's Arkle odds tumbled from 28-1 to 5-1. His Ryanair odds have drifted to 10-1.

King, attending a Cheltenham preview night in Belfast, said: "I'm not going to finally make up my mind until I walk the course on Sunday but if the going is heavy then, as it is now, he'll run in the Arkle."

Simon Claisse, Cheltenham's clerk of the course, confirmed yesterday that the going had turned heavy after a lot rain at the weekend. But there is no danger of the first day being postponed as one sponsor feared.

Meanwhile, Ruby Walsh was freed up to ride Brave Inca in the Champion Hurdle after trainer Paul Nicholls told him Desert Quest was more likely to run in the County Hurdle, the race he won last year.

Walsh rode the current champion in a piece of work at his Co Wexford stable yesterday, but trainer Colm Murphy said: "There has been no decision (on who rides)."

Walsh is the likely replacement for regular pilot Tony McCoy, who will be claimed for Straw Bear in the Champion.

SANDOWN's two-day meeting starting on Friday is at risk. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "It's not encouraging. You wouldn't be racing with us at the moment, frankly."

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