Best of Days at Kempton

Three-year-old allowance puts Hugo Palmer’s charge well in the mix

BEST OF DAYS can belatedly open his account for the campaign in the 32Red Floodlit Stakes at Kempton.

A quality field of eight runners are due to go to post for the Listed feature including older Group race winners Western Hymn, Connecticut and Dylan Mouth.

Best Of Days is a shade behind that trio on official ratings, but his threeyear-old allowance puts him bang in the mix and he might not have reached the ceiling of his ability just yet.

Hugo Palmer’s charge rounded off a promising juvenile campaign with victory in the Royal Lodge at New market, but did not return to action until the summer after suffering a spinal injury.

He bombed out on his reappearance at Royal Ascot but has gone some way to restoring his reputation with three sound efforts at stakes level, most recently finishing a close-up third in the Listed Godolphin Stakes on the Rowley Mile.

Cheekpieces looked to do the job and as long as they have the desired effect for a second time, Best Of Days must have every chance of regaining the winning threat on his all-weather debut.

JUST IN TIME can continue his winning spree in the 32Red London Middle Distance Series Final.

Three runs as a two-year-old offered little encouragement, but a gelding operation during the off-season appeared to change his fortunes.

Alan King’s charge began the season from the fairly lowly perch of 60, but three wins later he races from a mark of 82 in this £70,000 contest. He displayed talent and tenacity in equal measure to complete his hat-trick on the turf at Leicester last month, which followed a decisive victory at this venue.

A 9lb hike makes life tougher, but the progressive three-year-old is clearly in rude health and with winning course form under his belt, he ticks plenty of boxes.

CHIRICO VALLIS is an interesting recruit to Neil Mulholland’s yard and makes his debut over fences in the Uncle Rustys Ginger Ninja “Confined” Novices’ Chase at Southwell.

Leading owner JP McManus went to an eye-watering 355,000 euros to secure his services after a couple of promising runs in France but, while he has not been a total flop, he has not lived up to his hefty price tag.

He managed just one win from seven starts over hurdles for Gordon Elliott but was placed on four occasions, most recently finishing a creditable third behind Montalbano at last season’s Punchestown Festival.

Chirico Vallis brings a hurdles rating of 133 to Britain.

SELECTIONS:

KEMPTON: 1.20 George Villiers, 1.50 Beyond Recall, 2.20 Considered Opinion, 2.50 BEST OF DAYS (NAP), 3.20 Just In Time, 3.50 Tropics, 4.20 Procurator. SOUTHWELL: 1.00 Galros Lady, 1.30 Goosen Maverick, 2.00 Chirico Vallis, 2.30 Cliffside Park, 3.00 Stepover, 3.30 Sky Pirate, 4.00 Strong Glance. DOUBLE: Best Of Days and Just In Time.