in rear, bumped 1st, ridden after 10th, not fluent next, behind when mistake 13th, pulled up before 15th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led after 2 out, clear flat, stayed on
tracked leader until not fluent 4 out, mistake next, well beaten 2 out, lost 3rd close home
towards rear, bumped 1st, headway 10th, not fluent 11th or 12th, weakened before 4 out
held up in rear, awkward 3rd, mistake 5th, struggling 15th, pulled up after
chased leaders, mistake 8th, ridden after 15th, beaten before 4 out, weakened 2 out
led, not fluent 6th, pushed along after 4 out, headed after 2 out, beaten flat, kept on
mid-division, lost place after 10th, effort 15th, no impression before 4 out, plugged on from 2 out to take modest 3rd close home
Baywing won the Eider at Newcastle last season but was well behind Lake View Lad in the Rehearsal Chase on that track at the start of the month and worse off at the weights when just behind runner-up WAKANDA (NAP) in this 12 months ago. Sue Smith’s stayer is only 2lb higher than when winning the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster at the start of the year and a recent spin over hurdles will have put him spot-on for this. Captain Chaos came right back to form behind Lake View Lad at Newcastle and is the pick of the weights today with the in-form Takingrisks and Crosspark also respected. Allysson Monterg probably needed his run at Newbury but Crievehill is trying a new trip in tough company.
Baywing (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Behind, headway 12th, weakened 6 out, tailed off, 7th of 12, dist behind Lake View Lad (10-13) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Lake View Lad (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, driven to lead 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec beating Captain Chaos (10-4) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Wakanda (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Aristo Du Plessis (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Crievehill (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, driven after 2 out, 5th and beaten last, plugged on, 6th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Warriors Tale (11-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Allysson Monterg (FR) 50-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, tailed off, 7th of 12, dist behind Sizing Tennessee (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Crosspark 6-4fav (11-1) Held up in rear, headway from 3 out, ridden to lead before last, held on towards finish, won at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Wotzizname (11-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Prominent, mistake 5th, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on into 2nd close home, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Lake View Lad (10-13) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Takingrisks (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake 11th, left in 2nd at 13th, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly into 2nd towards finish, never reached winner, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Vintage Clouds (11-11) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
