Haiti Couleurs Dominates Denman Chase to Emerge as Gold Cup Contender
Haiti Couleurs delivered a powerful performance at Newbury on Saturday, winning the Denman Chase by seven lengths and solidifying his status as a serious contender for the upcoming Cheltenham Gold Cup. The victory saw the Welsh Grand National winner shorten to 7-1 in the ante-post betting for chasing's most prestigious prize, scheduled for 13 March.
A Commanding Display at Newbury
In a race where the shortest-priced British runner, Jango Baie, was withdrawn due to heavy ground concerns, Haiti Couleurs seized the opportunity. Trained by Rebecca Curtis and ridden by Sean Bowen, the nine-year-old made all the running, showcasing his stamina and jumping ability. Despite not being foot-perfect at every fence, he drew clear of L'Homme Presse after the final obstacle to secure a decisive win.
Curtis expressed confidence in her chaser's Gold Cup prospects, noting, "There were lots of expectations today and he's gone and shown he must have some sort of chance in the Gold Cup. L'Homme Presse is a really good yardstick, and although I'm not saying he's gone and beaten a Gold Cup field, he's done really well."
Gold Cup Credentials and Running Style
Haiti Couleurs' physique and running style have drawn comparisons to Denman, the 2008 Gold Cup winner, adding to the anticipation surrounding his Cheltenham bid. Curtis highlighted his adaptability, stating, "He likes to be ridden positively, and we weren't going to change that. He's practically unbeaten in handicaps, and we still don't probably know where his ceiling is."
The extra quarter-mile at Cheltenham is expected to play to his strengths, with Curtis adding, "He'll enjoy the Gold Cup trip, and he loves going up and down hills and undulating tracks. Sean Bowen said how much he loves going fast downhill, and he has great balance."
Other Key Performances on the Card
The day also featured significant wins from other Cheltenham hopefuls. Nicky Henderson's Lulamba overcame a mid-race flat spot to win the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase by six-and-a-half lengths. With only one defeat in his career, a narrow loss in last season's Triumph Hurdle, Lulamba is now three-from-three over fences and is expected to start at around 11-8 for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
Henderson remarked, "You can see why we did it, it was purely to get that experience. That is why we were here, and he'd have learnt a lot."
Meanwhile, at Warwick, Sam Thomas's Steel Ally secured a comfortable victory in the Kingmaker Novice Chase, cutting his odds to around 10-1 for the Arkle Trophy. This race marked the end of a relentless 16-day period of Cheltenham preparations, setting the stage for an exciting festival next month.
