The recent form makes for sobering reading. Over the last six races, Highland Haven has finished 6th, 2nd, 18th, 4th, 5th, and 5th — placed once, but largely treading water rather than threatening the front. That 18th-place finish stands out as a particularly rough day at the office, and the general picture is of a horse that occasionally shows up but has not been able to rediscover whatever it had that November afternoon in Wales.
What keeps things interesting is the yard behind it. Highland Haven is trained by Fergal O'Brien, based in Withington in Gloucestershire, and O'Brien's operation is in seriously good form right now — 89 winners sent out this season alone. That is the kind of output that tells you this is a professional, well-run yard that knows how to get horses winning. When a trainer is firing in winners at that rate, it gives you at least some reason to think an unfashionable horse on a quiet streak might not be finished yet. Highland Haven raced just one day ago, so it is very much still active and still being given opportunities to find its feet again.
Whether it can, only time will tell. But for a horse with a modest CV and a long winless run, being stabled with one of the busier yards in the country is no small thing.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ffos Las Galloping |
1 | 1 win | 10 Nov | 100% |
| Bangor-on-Dee Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 31 Mar | 0% |
| Huntingdon Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 8 Dec | 0% |
| Warwick Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 8 Feb | 0% |
| Newton Abbot Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 19 Sep | 0% |
| Worcester Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 22 Oct | 0% |
| Aintree Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 3 Apr | 0% |