Eider doubts for Nicky’s Baywing

NICKY RICHARDS fears the drying ground at Newcastle will be against Baywing who bids for back-to-back wins in the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase today.

An impressive winner of the four-mile marathon 12 months ago on heavy ground, the stayer faces completely different conditions at Gosforth Park.

Richards said: “We’d prefer much softer ground for him.

“It’s a very long trip, though – there aren’t many races as long as this, so I hope that will help bring his stamina into play.

“I think we’ll know our fate after a circuit. If he’s able to keep in touch on the first circuit, then he might be able to creep into it like last year.

“We know that he’s an exceptional stayer on soft ground – he’s got to prove he can do it in different circumstances.”

Richards also runs Progress Drive for the first time since a wind operation, and he feels the lightly-raced eight-yearold is also cut out for this stamina test.

He said: “He’s a nice horse, and he’s still young in terms of an out-and-out stayer. He ran a nice race in the Borders National when he was third and he was staying on.”

The Greystoke trainer has his fingers crossed Simply Ned will make it to the Cheltenham Festival.

The 12-year-old was primed for the Dublin Racing Festival but hurt himself the night before and was unable to run.

“He’s back cantering now and I’m hoping he’ll make Cheltenham,” added the trainer. “I’m fairly confident he’ll make it.”