Palmer Outlines Running Plans

Hugo Palmer's season is running a little behind schedule compared to this time last year but his team's 27% strike rate in the last 14 days suggests the yard is starting to hit top gear. Two group wins last weekend also lend credence to this and the trainer issued an update on Tuesday on both Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) and Escobar (Ire) (Famous Name {GB}), two horses Palmer had high hopes for at the beginning of the season. After his win in the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket last September Best Of Days went into winter quarters as a potential Derby horse but having missed Epsom he began his season in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. The Godolphin colt made little impression, eventually coming home last behind Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Palmer commented, “It was a messy race and it went badly for him. He was drawn wide and was a bit sluggish away but it was only his fourth run of his career. He has come back from it great but I think with him now we will go through his grades.” Palmer intends to aim Best Of Days at the Listed Bet365 S., a ten furlong race at Newbury July 22.

Escobar fared little better for the Palmer team at Royal Ascot when finishing 13^th in the G3 Jersey S. and the Newmarket trainer hopes a routine surgical procedure following the race will help focus Escobar's mind on the job a bit more in future. “He was gelded the Monday after Ascot as the trainer and the owners were blowing more than the horse after the race,” Palmer said. “I felt at the two-pole that we were going to win a Royal Ascot race, but then his head came up though and it didn't quite happen. The obvious race is going to be the [G3] Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood over a mile and I think he will appreciate going round the bend like he did at Sandown,” he added.