An excellent day's Racing and here are the thoughts of our Racing Factors Long Shot tipster.
York
J: George Wood
T: A King
The John Smith's Cup is one of the most competitive races of the whole season and this year's renewal looks just as tough a puzzle to solve. Paradias has shown good form in handicaps on the flat prior to being sent hurdling this winter. He looked good when winning at Lingfield and then running well at Newbury after in that sphere. However returned to the flat he put in arguably a career best to finish 2nd in a decent handicap at Epsom last time out. Today's ground conditions, slightly extra distance and more galloping conventional track should all very much suit him much better, as will a good draw in stall 7. Paradias looks a horse in form and if can get a good position behind the leaders early in the race, he could well be finishing off best of all. Paradias rates a 4 star each way Pick.
Newmarket
J: Rossa Ryan
T: R M Beckett
Kinross was making his seasonal reappearance and returning from a 252 day break last time out at Newcastle where he finished a good 2nd of 11. He took up the lead with a furlong to go and just ran out of steam to a fast-race fit finisher in the end. With that run under his belt he should be very much primed for today's big race and now with ground conditions on the soft side he looks to have optimum conditions. A good 3rd in this race last season, he is proven at the highest level and looks sure to run a big race. Kinross rates a 4 star each way Pick.