Haiti Couleurs Primed For Cheltenham Gold Cup Moment
Rebecca Curtis has long seen Haiti Couleurs as a possible Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and she will quickly learn if her "amazing journey" with her steady star results in more Festival magnificence in the most significant race of all.
Since winning the National Hunt Chase at the conference 12 months earlier, Haiti Couleurs has actually added Irish and Welsh Grand National success to his growing CV and further enhanced his claims for the blue riband in Newbury's Denman Chase.
He is now totally primed for his quest to end up being the first Welsh-trained Gold Cup winner given that Norton's Coin's shock 100-1 success in 1990, with champion jockey Sean Bowen seeking his own defining moment in the saddle.
"We can't do any more now and he's healthy and all set," stated Curtis.
"It would be great if a little bit of rain comes. It's not a concern as such as he's flexible and has actually won plenty of times on goodish ground, however a bit of cut may bring a bit more stamina into the race which we understand he has a great deal of.
"It's been quite tough for them to make up ground today with the ground being as it is, which will match his running style.
Haiti Couleurs is on course to represent Wales in the Gold Cup (Jonathan Brady/PA)
"We're looking forward to it and we have actually been on a fantastic journey with him. Whatever he does in this will be a bonus and we'll learn if he depends on that class. It would be definitely fantastic for everyone if it might take place."
While Curtis is looking for her very first success in the remaining masterpiece, Nicky Henderson opts for his third with Jango Baie, who bids to follow in the steps of previous Seven Barrows greats Long Run and Bobs Worth.
The winner of the Arkle here in 2015, he was exceptional on his return at Ascot over the intermediate distance and has been kept fresh considering that being denied by a half a length in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.
"I wouldn't state he's certain to remain the trip, but I'm hopeful. We understand he shows up the hill and he's got the pace to win over 2 miles," said Henderson.
"In the King George, after he jumped the third-last there was an injection of rate and we were absolutely captured on the back foot - we kipped down fourth and finished fourth.
"We're hopeful and it's the natural location to go. We were going to run in the Denman, but it was bottomless ground.
"He 'd have more speed than Bobs Worth - he would not have actually won an Arkle. But Long Run was a high-class horse. To be fair this lad didn't truly win an Arkle, he fell in at the end of the day, however it was great at the time. He's not that quick, however he's pretty skilled.
"If you take a look at the King George form then there shouldn't be much in between three of them. Pick who you like, they have actually all got great possibilities and it makes certain to be a hell of a race.
"In some Gold Cups, by the time they come downhill there are just two or three still playing, but you could easily see 6 or seven still in play this time. Then when the cards are played it could be wacky - who is brave enough, who jumps well adequate and who ultimately shows great enough."
Henderson's former assistant Ben Pauling and The Jukebox Man declared a memorable victory in that King George, with the scenes of joy including owner Harry Redknapp lighting up the joyful duration.
Now having also stayed away from the racecourse given that Christmas, Pauling is hoping his charge can show he is number one in an open department.
He stated: "Without Galopin Des Champs, there's absolutely nothing in the field aside from in 2015's winner (Inothewayurthinkin) that has shown they depend on Gold Cup-winning requirement and he hasn't appeared like the exact same horse this season.
"I'm expecting something to stick its head above the parapet this year and I hope it will be us. It's an incredible Gold Cup and we're really lucky to have a horse like this.
"We won the King George by inches, however I make sure this track will suit him better. I believed he looked tapped for speed at the back of three-out at Kempton however he somehow stuck on and I have actually got him in fantastic order."
Also representing Britain will be Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse who was fourth to Galopin Des Champs in 2024 and has a fine record at Prestbury Park.
He finished ahead of Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning when they met in the Cotswold Chase, however the instructor choose has just ever had one day in mind considering that his Betfair Chase heroics in the fall.
"He enjoys the course, he's won at the course and he's versatile on ground, as long as it's not heavy," said Skelton.
"He remains, he showed that in the Betfair. People are entitled to ask the concern and I'm entitled to say he's done it!
"The improvement from the Cotswold Chase has actually arrived, we are really prepared and I believe we will be there turning in. Whether he suffices from there, I do not know, I simply sense we're going there the best we can be."