Haiti Couleurs primed for Denman Chase tilt

Rebecca Curtis sees the William Hill Denman Chase at Newbury as the “ideal preparation” for Haiti Couleurs ahead of a tilt at the most prestigious prize in steeplechasing.

Already the winner of the Irish and Welsh Nationals, the only blot on his recent copybook came when upped to Grade One company in the Betfair Chase, but he was beaten so far out Curtis was able to disregard that run.

Back to winning ways at Chepstow and with the benefit of hindsight having watched the cream of the Irish stayers go to war at Leopardstown on Monday, Curtis feels his preparation has been spot on.

She said: “I think we’ve got him in a great place, he’s really well at home and it’s the perfect race for him I think before Cheltenham.

“We’re happy with the ground and it’s nice and soft there and as it turns out it’ll be more ideal than if we had gone over to Ireland with all the uncertainty about it being on and the way that race played out.

“It won’t be an easy race and L’Homme Presse stays really well and went close last time, but this could be the ideal preparation for him.

“We’re aiming at the Gold Cup but it’s also a long way still until Cheltenham and then also Aintree, so we will take it race by race and see how he goes.”

The stage is set for L’Homme Presse to serve yet another reminder of his class and longevity.

Venetia Williams’ 11-year-old fell agonisingly short of defending his Cotswold Chase crown at Cheltenham late last month and is now ready to serve it up to  Haiti Couleurs.

“He’s still a force in that division and I have so much pride that our 11-year-old is still competing at the top table and able to serve it up to them, it’s brilliant,” said Andy Edwards, who owns the horse under the DFA Racing banner in partnership with Pam Sharman, Ray Sharman and Peter and Patricia Pink.

“Pride is always the overriding emotion with this horse. There’s no Jango Baie there but Haiti Couleurs is a top-class horse and an out-and-out stayer and even though there is only four runners it will be a really good race.

“There is every chance three miles in the mud might suit us, but then Haiti Couleurs is a Welsh Grand National winner, so it will be fascinating to see how it plays out.”

It is only two weeks since L’Homme Press fought out a thrilling finish with Spillane’s Tower on Cheltenham Festival Trials day and with that performance booking the Prestbury Park specialist another ticket to the Gold Cup, connections are happy to squeeze in an extra outing before the Festival.

Edwards added: “He’s spot on and exactly where we want him really. You never know about the quick turnaround until he actually runs in the race, but all the signs he is giving us is that he is absolutely fine and ready to go again.

“It was a very slowly run race before a sprint up the hill at Cheltenham and obviously he had a race, but it wasn’t as gruelling as a Cotswold could be, so we’re happy.”

He went on: “The plan is Denman, Gold Cup and Grand National. Plenty have said to keep him back for the National, but he’s 11 and there’s no point keeping him for the Gold Cup as realistically he only has a fighting chance of winning that even though he’s more than capable of finishing in the first five.

“And then with the Grand National anything can happen, it’s not a race that you can save a horse for and we want to both enjoy him and him also enjoy himself while he’s feeling well and healthy and fit within himself. He loves his work, loves racing and who are we to deny him that?”

The four-strong line-up is complete by Anthony Honeyball’s Leave Of Absence and Dan Skelton’s Riskintheground.