Cheltenham, England: My Way De Solzen beat Golden Cross, ridden by flat racing jockey Johnny Murtagh, by a head to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday.
With favourite Mighty Man and two-time winner Baracouda trailing, the 3-mile race was between the two leaders at the last fence as 8-1 shot My Way De Solzen, with jockey Robert Thornton in the saddle, led 5-1 shot Golden Cross by half a length. Golden Cross and Murtagh made up ground as they charged uphill toward the finish line. But Thornton got his mount to quicken to win the £230,000 (Dh1.5 million) race.
"I really thought this horse was going to win. I'm just sick," said Murtagh, who won last year's English Derby on Motivator.
"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."
Mighty Man, the 4-1 favourite, finished four lengths behind the winner in third place of the 20 horses, while 11-year-old Baracouda placed fifth.
In an earlier race on Day Three of the Festival, Mick Fitzgerald led joint favourite Fondmort to victory in the £150,000 Ryanair Chase.
The highlight race of the Festival is today's Gold Cup with Hedgehunter bidding to become the first Grand National winner to win the race on debut.
