'These days make up for the bad ones' - 12-year-old Caro Des Flos provides Julian Smith with his first winner since June

Caro Des Flos repeated last year’s success in the 2m3f handicap chase to provide trainer Julian Smith with a first winner since June. 

The 12-year-old was beaten by Zmiinyi at this track last month, but he reversed the form with the odds-on favourite, who managed only third as Caro Des Flos scored by a length and a quarter from Ballywood.

The runner-up looked set to end Georgie Howell’s 1,142-day wait for a winner before Caro Des Flos rallied on the run-in under Harry Bannister.

Smith can sympathise with the second’s connections having himself endured a 740-day barren spell before Caro Des Flos won at Worcester in June 2021.

“I was in hospital having my gallbladder out at the time and that was the first chase win we had with him,” said Smith. 

“These days make up for all the ones when you’re stood around in the wet trying to wonder why you’re doing it."

Caro Des Flos was competing off a 4lb lower mark than when landing the same race 12 months ago and, after he recorded his third victory at the Lincolnshire venue, Smith said: “He’s as enthusiastic as when we first had him, probably more so. I didn’t think he was going to get there at one stage but thankfully he did.”

It was a second success of the season for Smith, the other being Fine By Her at Fakenham in June, when the trainer's daughter Jessica rode her first winner under rules.

“We farm and do lots of different things, but we try and make sure we always have a few racing,” added Smith. 

“We try and get our daughter on the odd one or two and she does most of the work on all of the horses.” 

Sheehan's Silver lining

Zmiinyi’s rider Gavin Sheehan fared better in the bumper when he steered Silver Hill to a successful debut for Jamie Snowden.

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