Have the Best Of Days with Palmer’s runner in the 32Red Floodlit Stakes at Kempton

London – Best Of Days can belatedly today open his account for the campaign in the 32Red Floodlit Stakes at Kempton.

A quality field of eight runners is 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 three-year-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 highly promising juvenile campaign with victory in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket, but did not return to action until the summer after suffering a spinal injury. He bombed out badly on his reappearance at Royal Ascot, but has gone some way to restoring his reputation since with three sound eff orts at stakes level, most recently finishing a close-up third in the Listed Godolphin Stakes on the Rowley Mile.

The application of cheekpieces looked to do the job that day 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 turn him inside out. 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 4.5kg 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 to secure his services after a couple of promising runs in France, but while he has not been a total flop, he has certainly not lived up to his he y price tag.

He managed just one win from seven starts over hurdles for Irish maestro Gordon Elliott, but was placed on four occasions, most recently finishing a creditable enough third behind Montalbano at last season’s Punchestown Festival. Chirico Vallis brings a hurdles rating of 133 to Britain and if he can translate that to the larger obstacles, he should make a winning start for his new trainer.

Fixed Rate bolted up at Fakenham two and a half weeks ago and has a good opportunity to follow up in the Download The attheraces App For iPad Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton.

Charlie Mann’s four-year-old responded generously to the fitting of some cheekpieces when scoring by 10 lengths with his head in his chest. The handicapper has reacted accordingly, bumping him up 10 points, but it might not be enough to stop him following up provided conditions do not deteriorate significantly.

– Press Association