in rear, ridden 4th, tailed off from 4 out
not fluent at times, close up, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up next
raced wide, always prominent, led 3rd, headed 3 out, tracked leader, looked held when left in lead soon after last, ridden out
held up, headway 4th, tracked leaders 4 out, led 2 out, looked sure to win when landed awkwardly and unseated rider last
led, jumped right 1st, headed 3rd, led again 3 out, headed next, left 2nd at last, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden 5th, weakened next, tailed off
keen, always in rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up next
tracked leader when ran green approaching 1st, tracked leaders 3rd, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace
Smiths Cross has already won a point and a bumper and he found only one too good on his debut over hurdles at Ffos Las. But LORD YEATS is a potentially smart recruit to the jumping ranks given he won a Listed race on the Flat and was up against the likes of Order Of St George and Vazirabad earlier this year. His last two runs have been in the Ebor and the Doncaster Cup. Encore Champs was second to a useful sort in a bumper at Market Rasen in May and then won at Ffos Las so can’t be ignored given he is bred for jumping. Hexham fourth Mistiroc is also interesting along with Smackwater Jack, who still had every chance when crumpling after the second-last at Aintree.
Casimir Du Clos (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Last trio, never on terms, 7th of 8, dist behind Skidoosh (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Charming Dream (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Opium (10-7) at Fontainebleau 2m gd in Apr.
Encore Champs (IRE) 4-1fav (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct beating Thomas Macdonagh (11-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Extra Mag (FR) Kapgarde gelding out of Qrystale Mag.
Lord Yeats 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Thomas Hobson (9-5) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Mistiroc 2-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders after next, kept on same pace closing stages, 4th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Weather Front (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Rollerball Rocco (IRE) 200-1 (11-6) Led and jumped left, took keen hold, headed 6th, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Tommy Rapper (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Smackwater Jack (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, tracking leaders when fell 2 out, at Aintree 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Smiths Cross (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Remastered (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
