The unbeaten Harbour Watch, a high-class juvenile last term and fancied by many to run a big race in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5, is far from being a certain runner after meeting with a minor setback whilst building up to a crack at the first colts’ classic of the season, writes Elliot Slater.

The Richard Hannon-trained son of Acclamation won all three of his outings last term but wasn’t seen after late-July after sustaining a leg injury whilst being trained for a bid for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at HQ last October. Having apparently recovered well from that setback during the winter and been making good progress ahead of an anticipated return to the fray back on the Rowley Mile, the three-year-old has again picked up a small injury and many observers writing racing betting tips  believe that the sands of time are beginning to run out for the current 14/1 shot to make the line-up for the premier mile event.

Having apparently strengthened up well during the winter and now looking a fine specimen, a spokesman for Harbour Watch’s owners Robin Heffer and Qatar Bloodstock, suggested that he believes it may well prove more realistic to train the colt with a view to returning to racecourse duty at Royal Ascot in June, rather than rush things to line up at Newmarket in May.

Hannon’s charge proved himself a high quality two-year-old last season, following his debut win in a Salisbury maiden by beating the useful Burwaaz with any amount in hand in a Newmarket conditions stakes. He stepped up to pattern race company on his third, and what proved to be final start of 2011, overcoming trouble in running to justify the punters who bet on racing  backing him to even money favouritism in the Group 2 Tanqueray Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, cosily accounting for the very decent Bannock by an easy two-and-a-quarter-lengths.