This won’t take much winning and it must be significant that Charles Byrnes sends the in-form MR SMITH (NAP) over from County Limerick. The grey won twice over staying trip over hurdles in August and was successful earlier on the Flat at Carlisle. Conditions will hold no fears for the eight-year-old and Dylan Hogan’s claim is a further plus. St Andrews has never won on Turf nor raced on going as heavy as this but he was third over 1m6f here last time and stays this trip. Lilypad was in front when falling over hurdles at Worcester last month and, along with Lady Kyria, could run well at bigger odds. Ffos Las third Bambys Boy is also interesting as he’s won a bumper on soft going and his stable is bang in form.
Compatriot (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 8th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Brutalab (10-1) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (6) sft in Sep.
Lilypad (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked clear leader, led approaching 4 out, ridden and fell 2 out, at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Sep.
Bambys Boy 16-1 (9-13) Slowly into stride, keen, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 6 1/2l behind Tigerskin (9-11) at Ffos Las 1m 6f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Lady Kyria (FR) 66-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Bollin Joan (9-5) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Enmeshing 9-1 (9-3) Mid-division on outside, outpaced and wide into straight, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Pact Of Steel (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Mr Smith 4-9fav (11-3) Slight mistake 1st, tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 9th, disputed after 10th, slight mistake 4 out, soon led, slight mistake 3 out, asserted before next, soon clear, easily, won at Roscommon 3m hcp sft in Aug beating Messie (11-3) by 12l, 8 ran.
St Andrews (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Hampered start, mid-division, headway over 1f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never a threat, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Jan De Heem (9-9) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (5) gf in Sep.
Cuba Ruba 5-2 (8-9) Held up, headway when not clear run over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Art Of Diplomacy (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp (5) sft in Sep.
Miss Ranger (IRE) 28-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 10, 4 3/4l behind The Fiddler (9-9) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (6) gf in Sep.
Elite Icon 14-1 (8-13) Towards rear, in rear over 7f out, outpaced over 3f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Well Funded (9-6) at Carlisle 1m 6f hcp (6) gs in Sep.
Rockliffe 11-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, chased front pair over 4f out, ridden inside final 2f, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 3rd of 5, 7 1/4l behind Clearance (9-13) at Ripon 2m hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Legalized 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, badly hampered and brought down 7th, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
So Hi Cardi (FR) 11-1 (8-11) Reluctant to load, towards rear, pushed along 9f out, dropped to rear halfway, ridden and rallied over 1f out, stayed on to go 4th post, 4th of 8, 18 1/2l behind Kaizer (9-6) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp (6) gs in Sep.
Ozark 66-1 (9-0) Keen raced wide in touch, ridden and lost place 3f out, 9th of 10, 21l behind Inteldream (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (6) pol in Sep.
Archie's Sister 66-1 (8-5) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 10, 7 1/4l behind The Fiddler (9-9) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (6) gf in Sep.
