The Newbury card on Thursday, 6 November, was headlined by a pair of Class 2 events – about par for the course for slightly above average midweek fare. However, lurking within the field for the second of those Class 2 contests was a horse with Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National aspirations.
Hailing from the Newport yard of Rebecca Curtis, Haiti Couleurs claimed famous wins at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse last season. With his star on the rise, the son of Dragon Dancer headed into the current campaign as the shortest-priced British runner for the Aintree and Cheltenham Festival highlights.
Rising Through the Ranks in 2024/25
Following a pair of relatively low-key efforts in 2021 point-to-point events, Haiti Couleurs was off the track for almost two years. Finally making his debut under rules in December 2023, he predictably took a few runs to shake off the ring rust. However, the fact that he was pitched into Grade 2 company on only his third start suggests he was showing promise on the gallops. That proved a step too far too soon, but back-to-back hurdles wins at Chepstow and Bangor ensured he ended his debut campaign on a high.
Sent straight over fences in 2024/25, a mistake at the last ended his winning chance first time out at Chepstow. The first sign of his considerable potential as a chaser arrived on his second outing, as he produced a fluent round to slam the opposition by 15 lengths at Aintree. Backing that up with a smooth success at Cheltenham in December, he was given a short break ahead of a spring campaign.
Having warmed up with a third-placed effort at Newbury, Haiti Couleurs produced his best when it mattered most. Well supported ahead of the National Hunt Challenge Cup – run as a handicap for the first time in 2025 – he hit the front three from home under Ben Jones and forged clear for an impressive 4½l success. With one major prize in the bag, Haiti Couleurs headed to Ireland for a shot at an even bigger pot in the Irish Grand National.
With Champion Jockey Sean Bowen taking over in the saddle, the rising star produced a round of jumping that belied his novice status. Always up with the pace, Haiti Couleurs led into the straight and galloped on remorselessly for a famous victory. In the aftermath of that Fairyhouse triumph, Rebecca Curtis offered a hint as to what may lie ahead, stating:
“Could you ever imagine he can become a Gold Cup-type horse?”
Haiti Couleurs still has work to do to make the signature event on the final day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. However, those Curtis quotes – and a dearth of credible Gold Cup challengers in other British yards – make him one of the most exciting horses of the 2025/26 season.
All Eyes on Newbury
A 3m½f handicap over the smaller obstacles is a far cry from the premier staying chase of the season. Nevertheless, Curtis opted for the Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier as the seasonal starting point for her stable star.
🏆 @PertempsJobs Network Handicap Hurdle 🏆
🥇 Haiti Couleurs
🥈 Bill Baxter
🥉 10 LibyanHaiti Couleurs quietly takes victory under a prominent ride from Sean Bowen for Rebecca Curtis 👏 pic.twitter.com/7jSVv8H3ZR
— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) November 6, 2025
Saddled with top weight of 12st in a competitive 11-runner field, Haiti Couleurs was only the fourth choice of the betting market. However, it soon became clear that the soon-to-be nine-year-old would be involved in the finish. Having raced prominently, he lost ground approaching the third last but stayed on relentlessly over the final two obstacles. Aided by a final-flight error from the leader, Bill Baxter, Haiti Couleurs’ proven stamina came to the fore as he finished best of all to register a 1½l victory.
Betfair Chase Next in Line?
Bigger targets lie ahead, but a third successive win under far-from-optimal conditions must go down as a positive start to his campaign. Whether this is the first step towards a Gold Cup or Grand National bid remains to be seen. However, the odds compilers saw fit to shorten the staying star for both races. Haiti Couleurs is now as short as 14/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and no bigger than 16/1 for the Aintree Grand National, both of which will look like value if he keeps answering all the questions asked of him.
We may learn more about his Grade 1 credentials later this month, with the Betfair Chase on November 22 under consideration as his next target. Looking ahead to that Haydock contest, Curtis said:
“The Betfair Chase is very tempting and I’m leaning towards that. It’s only two and a half weeks away, but he’s the type of horse you could get away with doing that. We’ll chat with the owners.”
Available at 14/1 for the Betfair Chase before his comeback success, Haiti Couleurs is now a general 3/1 shot in a market headed by the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning. Deliver the goods in this one and his odds will surely tumble for the even bigger contests ahead.
