Curtis eyes another Irish raid with National hero Haiti Couleurs

January 19, 2026

Rebecca Curtis is eyeing another Irish raid with Grand National hero Haiti Couleurs.

The Welsh handler is planning to run her stable star in the €250,000 Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, for which he is currently a general 8/1 chance.

Curtis told the Racing Post: “We’ve decided to go to Ireland. It’s a big ask but we want to give it a go.

“I just felt if we were going to step him up in grade for the Gold Cup, then why not try him in something like that.

“He deserves to go there. He’s been good in handicaps but he needs to find a little bit more, it’s worth a shot to see where we are.

“The style of running might suit over there. They might let him off and he can ensure it’s a good stamina test. Your guess is as good as mine so we’ll see how he gets on.”

Haiti Couleurs’ only trip to Ireland under rules resulted in Grand National glory at Fairyhouse last April, leading his 29 rivals on a merry dance from the front early on under a strong Sean Bowen drive.

The nine-year-old has only contested top-level company on one occasion throughout his career so far, pulled up at 3/1 in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November when Bowen reported the horse was never travelling.

He bounced back in fine style to win the Welsh Grand National last month off a mark of 154, subsequently raised 5lbs but that rating is still some way off what will be required to be competitive here.

Regardless of how the son of Dragon Dancer gets on at Leopardstown, Curtis is adamant he’ll go to Cheltenham in March for the Gold Cup.

Haiti Couleurs was priced as Britain’s best Gold Cup hope at the start of the season but he’s since been overtaken by Jango Baie, The Jukebox Man and Grey Dawning in the ante-post market.

WHAT. A. PERFORMANCE 🤩

Haiti Couleurs takes the Welsh Grand National! 👑#ITVRacing | @rebcurtis | @Sean_Bowen_ pic.twitter.com/qOMJTX4zeN

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 27, 2025

Haiti Couleurs faces steep task to deny more Galopin Des Champs history

Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs will no doubt go off a clear favourite in the Irish Gold Cup, seeking a fourth consecutive victory in the race.

His perfect record over fences at Leopardstown which included six Grade 1s only just came to an end on seasonal reappearance in the Savills Chase, tiring in the closing stages and having to settle for third.

On official ratings Haiti Couleurs has 16lbs to find with the ten-year-old, whose yard is expecting him to take a big step forward from that effort at Christmas.

It’s unlikely the Welsh raider will be afforded a freebie in front with Savills winner Affordale Fury sure to be in the thick of the pace and it’s fair to say this is an audacious attempt.

He looked entirely out of his depth in far from the strongest of Grade 1s last time and has to find at least a few too good here.