Rebecca Curtis knows exactly what it takes to taste success at the Cheltenham Festival, with a near 10% strike rate from 57 runners. Significantly, she has achieved two wins from the only two horses (Teaforthree and At Fishers Cross) sent off as favourites.
If he arrives in good health, I suspect Haiti Couleurs will go off as favourite for the Novice Handicap Chase and complete the hat-trick of festival favourites sent from her Pembrokeshire yard.
The 8-year-old first showed signs of his potential when winning two back-end novice hurdles in the spring of 2024. The first, a soft low-key event at Chepstow, which he won in a canter, was followed by a dogged win at Bangor. There, he battled well to defeat Grand Albert by 1 length, with Illico De Cotte 11 lengths back in third. That race has worked out exceptionally well, with the runner-up and third both winning decent handicap chases — the former now rated 130 and the latter 126.
Remarkably, after two highly impressive wins this season at Aintree and Cheltenham, Haiti Couleurs is still rated just 135. The form of those races continues to be boosted, with even Beachcomber, who was pulled up after making blunders, winning a hot Class 3 handicap at Kempton over Christmas.
His demolition of the previous course winners Transmission (by 2½ lengths) and Peaky Boy (a head back in third) was notable for his relaxed style of running, fast accurate jumping, and a powerful finish up the Cheltenham hill.
Only put up 5lb for that win, I think the handicap mark is too tempting for Curtis not to stick to the original plan of the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. After the race, Rebecca was quoted as saying this horse was every bit as good as her other two National Hunt Chase Festival winners: Teaforthree, rated 146, and O’Faolain’s Boy, rated 144.
This season, the National Hunt Chase will become a Class 2 Novice Handicap Chase (0-145), with amateur rider restrictions for jockeys removed to allow professionals to take part. This makes that mark of 135 absolutely ideal, and I don’t expect the horse to be seen out again before the weights are issued on 27 February 2025.
Looking through the list of horses priced up in the William Hill NRMB market, some of the Irish horses look one-paced. The current favourite, Shannon Royale, who defeated High Class Hero (third-best) at Punchestown, may well be handicapped beyond the 145 mark. Among the English contingent, Inthewaterside showed promise at Newbury but will need to give weight away and settle better. Most of the others are held on the form of the Cheltenham race in December.
Haiti Couleurs has a touch of class and speed to go with the stamina required for the 3m6f and has the potential to be a Grade 1 chaser after this season.
William Hill is offering 7/1 EW 1,2,3,4 places NRMB. With Sean Bowen set to ride, if the build-up goes to plan, I think Haiti Couleurs could well go off around 11/4. It is a strong fancy and, at the current odds, possibly the bet of the meeting to give Rebecca Curtis three from three winning Festival favourites.
2pt EW Haiti Couleurs, 7/1 EW 1-4 places, N Hunt Chase, 11th March 2025
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