Haiti Couleurs Delights With Newbury Comeback Win

Haiti Couleurs took pleasure in the best tune-up for a prospective tilt at the Betfair Chase when making a winning reappearance in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.


Rebecca Curtis' Cheltenham Festival and Irish Grand National hero was sent off at 17-2 in the hands of Sean Bowen for his return over the smaller sized obstacles and his endurance came forward in the closing phases, as the champ jockey outbattled his sibling James Bowen aboard runner-up Bill Baxter.


Britain's shortest-priced contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Haiti Couleurs holds an entry for the Coral Gold Cup back at Newbury on November 29, but Curtis is lured to divert to Haydock a week previously with her star chaser.


Curtis informed Sky Sports Racing: "I'm not extremely shocked he won as I understood he was truly well and had actually improved from last year.


"I hoped he would run among those races where you end up in the very first 5, however seeing him go round I understood he was going to win because of the method he was taking a trip and you know he stays.


"He ran off obstacles off 135 last year and was beaten, but he's won off 10lb greater here, so it appears like he has actually improved."


Haiti Couleurs made a winning return at Newbury (David Davies/PA)


One what follows, she included: "There's benefits and drawbacks to both races, our main aim was the Coral Gold Cup however it's good to company here today on the chase track and looking at the forecast they are not due excessive rain here next week.


"He'll go into that off top-weight probably and Dan's (Skelton, Protektorat and Grey Dawning) rated higher won't run.


"The Betfair Chase is actually appealing, I understand it's only 2 and a half weeks away however he's the kind of horse you can get away with doing that with and he will be fresh on Monday morning.