Haiti Couleurs Primed For Cheltenham Gold Cup Moment
Rebecca Curtis has long viewed Haiti Couleurs as a possible Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and she will quickly learn if her "fantastic journey" with her stable star leads to more Festival glory in the biggest race of all.
Since winning the National Hunt Chase at the conference 12 months ago, Haiti Couleurs has included Irish and Welsh Grand National victories to his growing CV and even more enhanced his claims for the blue riband in Newbury's Denman Chase.
He is now completely primed for his quest to end up being the first Welsh-trained Gold Cup winner because Norton's Coin's shock 100-1 success in 1990, with champ jockey Sean Bowen seeking his own specifying moment in the saddle.
"We can't do anymore now and he's healthy and all set," stated Curtis.
"It would be nice if a bit of rain comes. It's not a worry 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 endurance into the race which we understand he has a lot of.
"It's been rather tough for them to comprise ground this week with the ground being as it is, which will suit his running design.
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 carries out in this will be a bonus and we'll discover if he is up to that class. It would be definitely brilliant for everyone if it could happen."
While Curtis is for her very first triumph in the remaining showpiece, Nicky Henderson goes for his 3rd with Jango Baie, who bids to follow in the steps of previous Seven Barrows greats Long term and Bobs Worth.
The winner of the Arkle here last year, he was exceptional on his return at Ascot over the intermediate range and has been kept fresh given that being denied by a half a length in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.
"I would not state he's specific to stay the journey, but I'm enthusiastic. We know he comes up the hill and he's got the pace to win over two miles," stated Henderson.
"In the King George, after he jumped the third-last there was an injection of pace and we were certainly caught on the back foot - we kipped down fourth and ended up fourth.
"We're hopeful and it's the natural place to go. We were going to run in the Denman, but it was bottomless ground.
"He 'd have more speed than Bobs Worth - he wouldn't have won an Arkle. But Long Run was an elite horse. To be reasonable 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, but he's quite gifted.
"If you take a look at the King George form then there should not be much in between three of them. Pick who you like, they have actually all got terrific opportunities and it's sure to be a hell of a race.
"In some Gold Cups, by the time they come downhill there are only 2 or three still playing, but you could easily see six or seven still in play this time. Then when the cards are played it could be crazy - who is brave enough, who leaps well enough and who eventually proves sufficient."
Henderson's former assistant Ben Pauling and The Jukebox Man declared a remarkable victory because King George, with the scenes of happiness involving owner Harry Redknapp lighting up the festive duration.
Now having also remained away from the racecourse considering that Christmas, Pauling is hoping his charge can show he is primary in an open division.
He said: "Without Galopin Des Champs, there's absolutely nothing in the field besides in 2015's winner (Inothewayurthinkin) that has proved they are up to Gold Cup-winning requirement and he hasn't appeared like the same horse this season.
"I'm anticipating something to stick its head above the parapet this year and I hope it will be us. It's an amazing Gold Cup and we're very fortunate to have a horse like this.
"We won the King George by inches, however I make certain this track will match him better. I believed he looked tapped for speed at the back of three-out at Kempton however he in some way stuck on and I've got him in excellent order."
Also representing Britain will be Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse who was fourth to Galopin Des Champs in 2024 and has a great record at Prestbury Park.
He completed ahead of Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning when they met in the Cotswold Chase, but the champion fitness instructor choose has just ever had one day in mind given that his Betfair Chase heroics in the autumn.
"He loves the course, he's won at the course and he's versatile on ground, as long as it's not heavy," stated Skelton.
"He remains, he showed that in the Betfair. People are entitled to ask the question and I'm entitled to state he's done it!
"The improvement from the Cotswold Chase has actually arrived, we are actually prepared and I have no doubt we will exist turning in. Whether he's good enough from there, I do not understand, I just have a feeling we're going there the finest we can be."