Totepool Towton Novices’ Chase |
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| Grade 2 Handicap, Wetherby 14:45 £32,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 45y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 4th February 2017 | |
Baywing springs big surprise in Towton
1 Baywing 33/1
2 Calett Mad 11/4
3 Missed Approach 13/8F
6 ran Distances: 22l, 7l, 13l
Time: 6m 41.80s (slow by 44.80s)
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The Nicky Richards-trained Baywing seemingly looked out of his depth in the Grade Two, having been well beaten on his only previous outing over fences.
However, he always travelled smoothly in the hands of Ryan Day and his liking for testing ground paid dividends in the home straight.
Calett Mad, looking to continue Nigel Twiston-Davies' good recent form, cruised into the home straight but was found wanting for stamina over the three miles.
Missed Approach was under pressure early on the second circuit, while Captain Chaos was a faller - as was The Dutchman, who still held every chance when coming down at the fourth-last.
Baywing, giving Ryan Day the biggest win of his career, came home 22 lengths clear of Calett Mad.
"The key to his horse is the ground as he's got to have plenty of dig," said Richards,
"We might have a think about the four-miler (at Cheltenham) as long as the ground was soft enough.
"I'd run him in anything as long as there's enough cut.
"There's the Scottish National, but it tends not to be soft - he's probably more a Welsh National horse, anyway.
"He did a piece of work this week that made me think he wouldn't be out of place and I said to Ryan he might run on into third or something and we'd have something to build on."
Totepool Towton Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
£32,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 45y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Baywing (IRE) 33/1 | Ryan Day 11-0 |
N G Richards | 8 | |
| 2nd | 22 | Calett Mad (FR) 11/4 | Jamie Bargary 11-0 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 5 |
| 3rd | 7 | Missed Approach (IRE) 13/8f | G Sheehan 11-0 |
W Greatrex | 7 |
| 4th | 13 | Delusionofgrandeur (IRE) 8/1 | Danny Cook 11-4 |
Mrs S J Smith | 7 |
| F | Captain Chaos (IRE) 6/1 | Harry Skelton 11-0 |
D Skelton | 6 | |
| F | The Dutchman (IRE) 11/2 | T J O'Brien 11-0 |
A M Thomson | 7 |
