Veteran Hamish 'ready to go' on return in high-class Tapster Stakes - but could rare Nicky Henderson Flat runner spoil the party?

This is a vintage running of the Listed Tapster Stakes, with five of the six runners having already exceeded the ten-year average Racing Post Rating for a winner of 110.7.

The standard is set by the oldest runner in the line-up Hamish, who would be the first winner older than six since the race's inception in 2007. He showed no signs of slowing down last year, though, producing a joint-best RPR of 121 when second in the Group 1 Coronation Cup and running to just short of that level on his final two starts (119 and 118).

He's 6lb clear of the field on adjusted RPRs, won a course-and-distance Group 3 on his only visit to Goodwood, and has a fantastic record fresh – form figures of 4112111 after breaks of 91 days or more – while the forecast rain is in his favour.

Snapping at his heels are Bolster and Military Academy. The former recorded his peak RPR of 115 when lumping 10st to victory in a soft-ground York handicap in October, while the latter achieved the same figure when landing the Listed Floodlit Stakes at Kempton in November.

However, both have questions to answer. Bolster weakened from the front in the Huxley Stakes last time and is unraced beyond a mile and a quarter, while Military Academy needs to prove he can replicate his best form on turf.

A Listed winner for Godolphin and Andre Fabre, Galashiels makes his first start for Nicky Henderson at Goodwood on SundayCredit: Racing Post/Burton

A new name to British racecards is Galashiels, who was 5-14 when trained in France by Andre Fabre, notably beating subsequent King George winner Goliath in a Listed race last year.

He has failed to reproduce that form since, though, and has joined Nicky Henderson, who also knows plenty about Palladium, having saddled him to victory in a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon in January.

The Gleneagles colt, who was bought for €1.4 million at the Arqana Arc horses-in-training sale in October, won last year's Group 1 German Derby and could have more to offer back on the Flat now in the care of the Gosdens.
Analysis by Harry Wilson

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Hamish
Hamish is good but he needs soft ground, as we all know. They’ve had some rain and hopefully it will be soft. He’s ready to go and he’s been waiting for so long and it’s not rained at all.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Military Academy and Palladium
Palladium is ready to start off having joined us a few weeks ago but we expect the race to bring him on. He should handle the ground as should Military Academy, who is back from a break after running in Bahrain last time.

Palladium made three starts over hurdles with Nicky Henderson and now reverts to the FlatCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Galashiels
I think he wants soft ground, which is why we’re going here. It always looked like it was going to be the easiest ground in the country and if it rains some more it wouldn’t worry me. He’s a dual-purpose prospect and we’ll have a go on the Flat, then he’ll be ready for next winter. He’s had a bit of a break, he’s rated 105 and this seemed a nice enough race to start him in, even if he’s wrong at the weights with a few of them. Top weight in a handicap would be a tough place to start.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Read more...

2.00 Punchestown: 'He's one for cross-country races down the line' - JP McManus-owned Cheltenham winner embarks on new career with Enda Bolger 

3.25 Longchamp: 'We'll find out if we can continue to dream big' - Goliath camp looking for positive signs at Longchamp 

3.35 Goodwood: Beckett and Gosdens chasing further Goodwood success - but which line of form will prove the key? 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.