Highbury Hill

That sole win arrived at Chepstow on 27 January 2026, and it matters. Chepstow is a track with a demanding finish, and getting the job done there in the depths of January — typically one of the toughest periods of the season — suggests there is something genuine in Highbury Hill when conditions align. The recent form string of 3-–-1-7-3-2 is an interesting read: a win sandwiched between place finishes either side, with only one poor run in the mix. That is the form of a horse in decent health and finding its feet at this level.

Most of Highbury Hill's races have come at Class 5 level — the bread and butter of the sport, where horses are competitive without quite breaking through to the bigger occasions. At that level it has won 1 from 6, or roughly 1 in every 6 attempts, which is a fair return without being spectacular. The partnership with jockey Lorcan Murtagh, however, has yet to click — five races together and no wins between them. That is not necessarily a reason for alarm, but it is a number worth watching as they continue working together.

The trainer is Nigel Hawke, operating out of Stoodleigh in Devon — a small yard by the standards of the big training centres, but one that has sent out 9 winners already this season. Hawke tends to know his horses well and place them carefully, which makes Chepstow in January feel less like a lucky strike and more like a deliberate plan coming off. Highbury Hill raced just yesterday and is clearly being kept busy, which suggests the team believe there is more to come. Whether a second win is just around the corner or still some way off, this is a horse worth keeping an eye on.