Rebecca Curtis’ stable star Haiti Couleurs is reportedly in fine fettle as the yard begin to wind him back up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Dragon Dancer gelding has been a revelation for Curtis, winning nine of 15 races under rules. Speaking to Tattersalls Cheltenham, Curtis said: “He was so progressive as a novice, each race he ran in he kept getting better and better.”
He won a pair of hurdle races in the spring of 2024 before excelling himself as a chair last season. Having finished second on chase debut, he bolted up at Aintree before taking a novices’ handicap chase at Cheltenham.
After a prep race over hurdles, Haiti Couleurs justified joint favouritism in the National Hunt Challenge Cup by four lengths. Connections went to the Irish Grand National next time out, and were duly rewarded in gritty fashion.
His season began successfully over hurdles, though he took a backward step when pulling up in the Betfair Chase. Curtis retained the faith after finding an excuse, as he went on to win the Welsh Grand National. “To bounce back from that was amazing” noted Curtis. It was a poignant victory for both the Welsh trainer and Welsh jockey Sean Bowen.
“We’re just winding him up now” – Rebecca Curtis
Haiti Couleurs has come out of the Denman chase in excellent form according to Curtis, as he solidified his Gold Cup credentials at Newbury.
He made all under Sean Bowen in desperate ground, and grinded out the win to fend off L’Homme Presse. Curtis remarked “When ‘L’Homme Presse came to him he quickened up the straight and jumped the last three brilliant.”
The Cheltenham Gold Cup looks set to be a fascinating spectacle this season with the field wide open. Last year’s Arkle winner Jango Baie closely tops the market ahead of the King George winner The Jukebox Man. John Durkan winner Gaelic Warrior split that pair at Kempton, though is still in contention for the Ryanair. Last year’s winner Inothewayurthinkin is reportedly showing signs of his old self, while Galopin Des Champs shouldn’t be discounted.
Rebecca Curtis is under no illusion of the stiff task at bay, but her relentless galloper is well respected in what could be a blockbuster of a Gold Cup.
“He’s had an easy few weeks after his Newbury run so we’re just winding him up now.”