I think that Baywing is under-rated in the Eider Chase market. I think that he has the potential to progress a fair way beyond his handicap rating now at this extreme test.
The Eider Chase is usually an extreme test, run over an extended four miles usually on heavy ground, and that is the case again today. That could be ideal for Baywing.
Nicky Richards’ horse won four races over hurdles on the spin in the winter of 2015/16 over two and a half and three miles on heavy ground, and he won the Grade 2 Towton Chase over three miles on soft ground on his second run over fences last season.
Third behind Waiting Patiently in the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle on his debut this season, he fell at the first fence at Haydock on his next run, but he ran well in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby next time when he was beaten a total of just over two lengths by the winner Get On The Yager off a mark of 144.
Dropped by 2lb for that run, he ran well last time too, on his debut at Newcastle, to finish third behind Smooth Stepper and Silver Tassie in a three-mile handicap chase.
He is down another 2lb for that, which leaves him on a mark of 140, 8lb better off with Smooth Stepper and 7lb lower than his peak. More than that, however, the step up to four miles and the move to heavy ground could bring about significant improvement. He has raced just seven times over fences, so he has plenty of scope for progression as a staying chaser anyway, and he could run a big race today.