Highwayman

The real story emerges when you look at where Highwayman performs best. Over the longer distances — 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles — it has a win rate of two from three races, a 67% win rate that suggests this is where the horse genuinely thrives. That kind of comfort over ground suggests a mature runner with stamina, a rare thing in a three-year-old. The latest win came at Doncaster on 12 September, a big track that suits horses with proper pace and balance.

Trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien at Owning Hill in County Kilkenny, Highwayman is in a yard firing on all cylinders: O'Brien has already sent out 160 winners this season. That volume of success speaks to the quality of the operation. Highwayman kicked off with a debut win at Killarney on 13 July, and has built steadily since then. With the horse still active and last seen just a day ago, the yard will have firm plans in place. At this rate of improvement, with wins in three of the last six races, Highwayman looks a genuine prospect — the kind of runner that could easily step up in class over the coming months.