Godolphin’s new recruit bids for Acomb glory
Best Of Days made a huge impression when demolishing the field on his debut at Sandown and now takes a big step up to Group Three level
BEST OF DAYS bids to confirm the abundant promise of his Sandown debut in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York .
The Azamour colt could hardly have been more impressive on his racecourse debut in Esher last month, slamming his rivals by upwards of six lengths.
Hugo Palmer's colt has since being snapped up by Godolphin and will carry the royal blue silks for the first time as he tests the water in Pattern company on Wednesday.
Palmer said: "He's a gorgeous horse, but as is often the case with the Acomb, we're jumping straight up from a maiden to a Group Three.
"He's a horse we like and I hope he'll be up to the challenge, but we'll find out on Wednesday."
Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed's son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, sees his colours carried by the Mark Johnston-trained Bear Valley.
After successive runner-up finishes on his first two starts, the two-year-old made it third time lucky at Epsom before providing his trainer with another Glorious Goodwood winner after an emphatic victory on his nursery debut.
Godolphin racing manager John Ferguson said: "Best Of Days is just starting his career. He won well at Sandown and is a very good looking horse and we believe is one with a future.
"Bear Valley has got bags of experience. He went and won his nursery well at Goodwood.
"He went up 13lb for that, so he is a horse that deserves to take his chance.
"We're excited about them both and hopefully they'll run well."
Lockheed also won at Goodwood and is an interesting contender for proud Yorkshireman William Haggas.
The only Irish representative in the eight-strong field is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Courage Under Fire, who chased home esteemed stable companion Caravaggio in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh less than a fortnight ago.
Richard Hannon's Newbury winner Majeste, Kevin Ryan's pair of Syphax and Tommy Taylor and Galactic Prince from Andrew Balding's stable complete the line-up.
