The Highway Rat

The overall numbers tell a more modest story: 4 wins and 12 places from 27 races, a win rate of around 15% — roughly 1 in every 7 outings. That is respectable without being spectacular, and the 12 placed efforts hint at a horse who shows up and competes but does not always find that extra gear when it matters most. On normal ground the record sharpens a little, with 2 wins from 9 races at around 22%, or just over 1 in 5. It is a small sample, but it fits the pattern of a horse who is at his best when conditions are straightforward.

The partnership with jockey W J Lee is worth noting. From 11 races together they have won 3, a win rate of 27% — better than 1 in 4 — which is noticeably above The Highway Rat's overall average. That is the kind of number that suggests genuine chemistry rather than coincidence. Billy Lee has spoken warmly about the horse after winning at Navan, describing how he always felt in control even when pressed, which is exactly the kind of confidence a jockey needs on a horse who demands to be ridden with some encouragement.

Trainer Andy Oliver has sent out 20 winners this season, so the yard is in form. His comments over the past year have painted a picture of a horse who is well-managed and clearly thought of. When The Highway Rat came out of a race at Naas looking sore in the autumn of 2024, Oliver gave him time rather than pushing on — and the horse came back to win at Navan last May. That willingness to be patient with a horse in its eighth year says something about how the team values him.

The current form line of 6-6-4-3-7-4 shows no wins across the last six races, and that drought now stretches back 12 months. Having raced just one day ago, The Highway Rat is clearly still active and still in training. Whether Navan comes around again at the right moment remains to be seen, but history suggests that when it does, this is a horse worth paying attention to.