Harbour Highway

Harbour Highway kept on to take third place behind Solsbury Hill in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. Prominent early on, he lost his position along the inside on the run down the back straight. Moved out from behind horses by Conor Clarke as they raced towards the end of the back straight, he made ground as they raced across the top of the track. Still only 10th jumping the second last flight, he made some ground around the outside around the home turn and, still only eighth jumping the last, he stayed on well up the run-in to move into third place, just two lengths behind the winner Solsbury Hill by the time he got to the winning line.

Winner of his only point-to-point and winner of his bumper on his debut under Rules, Emmet Mullins' horse was sent off as fifth favourite for the Punchestown Champion Bumper last April on his second run under Rules. He was well beaten there, and he was well beaten in each of his first two runs over hurdles. This was much more like it and, out of a half-sister to Dazzling Susie and Thady Quil, who both won over two and a half miles, he shaped here as if he would appreciate a step up in trip.

Leopardstown, 2^nd March 2025