Racing Fergal O’Brien
A horse who suffered persistent lameness in his youth comes good
NICKY RICHARDS and owners David and Nicky Robinson have been at the forefront of the resurgence of northern-trained horses this season, having chalked up a big win with Simply Ned in Ireland in December.
On Saturday, they added the Betfred Eider Chase to the trainer’s collection when Baywing stayed on best of all to beat West Of The Edge four lengths in the Newcastle marathon. It was the nine-year-old’s second win over fences, although he won four on the bounce over hurdles.
Last season Baywing struggled after winning a Grade Two novices’ chase at Wetherby, but
he appreciated the step up to four miles and it was another solid ride from promising claimer Ryan Day, who also rode Guitar Pete to land the Caspian Caviar for Richards.
Richards said: “I thought
Ryan gave him a fine ride and I’m delighted for David and Nicky, who have a dozen horses with me. They are fine supporters of northern racing and have plenty of good horses like Simply Ned, Duke Of Navan and Chidswell.
“The handicapper set him some stiff tasks after he won the Towton Novices’ Chase last season,” he continued. “We’ve had a race like this in mind for him as I thought he would stay and he’s a horse who wants plenty of give in the ground.”
Baywing was broken in by Brian Harding, but he was persistently lame due to ringbone, a bony growth on his coffin bone. The vets told the owner he might not ever be able to race and if he did that his career would be short.
“He then injured his hock by putting his foot through a rail so had to have time off and got very fat,” said Robinson. “We weren’t sure what to do with him so I took him up to Greystoke for Nicky to see him. He suggested we should start on him and he’s never looked back.”