I resolved this by downloading the CNCnet client and installing that over the top of my YR directory *after* CNCreloaded was activated. obviously this break CNCnet but Yuri now loads completely with ares and I just use hamachi etc... for multiplayer, good stuff. here's the steps:
1. install RA2 - YR
2. install/activate CnCreloaded
3. Install cncnet into RA2 directory
4. run and update cncnet to get the game patched up
5. run CnCreloaded as normal using either launcher or ares.bat (must disable cncnet compatibility in CnCreloaded)
hope this helps some people in the future