GOODWOOD: Smirk made the most of a favourable draw to lift the £100,000 William Hill Mile at Goodwood yesterday and mark a welcome return for trainer David Elsworth.
The 12 to 1 winner was quickly away from stall 21 - just one away from the favoured far rail - and always in the first four, avoided trouble in behind to land the spoils for Elsworth, who had not had a winner in the last three weeks.
The stable has been under the weather with a viral infection. "In the past we have avoided running him on this kind of ground and Kevin said he didn't seem entirely happy going down but there you go - it's a pleasant surprise!" smiled Elsworth.
"We've run him because otherwise they're just stuck in their boxes all of the time. We weren't over-confident as you need a lot of luck in these handicaps."
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