Andy Newton

Welsh National hero Haiti Couleurs set for Down Royal comeback run

by
Andy Newton
28 September 2026

Welsh National Hero Haiti Couleurs is set for high-profile comeback run in Down Royal’s BetVictor Champion Chase.

Former Welsh Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs is primed to make his long-awaited seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained star-who famously etched his name into the history books by defying a massive 11st 13lb top-weight burden at Chepstow-returns to the track after a mid-season break.

The Down Royal curtain-raiser marks a step down in distance to 3 miles, testing the gelding’s speed and sharpness against top-tier open chasers over Northern Ireland’s premier autumn fence fixture.

Curtis and regular big-race partner Sean Bowen are using the fixture as an ideal launching pad for another lucrative winter campaign.

While better known for his relentless stamina over marathon trips, Haiti Couleurs showed his tactical versatility last February when landing the Denman Chase at Newbury over 3m.

Connections will be keen to see how the nine-year-old performs on yielding turf before mapping out targets like the King George VI Chase and a potential tilt at the Aintree Grand National.

While he’s around 10/1 for a repeat win in the Welsh Grand National and 66/1 for the Aintree Grand National.

Rebecca Curtis said

Rebecca Curtis trains Haiti Couleurs

“He has summered really well. He was quite light going out, but he had a hard enough season. He has really filled up now and looks big and strong again.

“I think life will be more difficult this season as he has gone up a lot in the handicap. He is one of those that if he never does anything again it wouldn’t matter as he has done so much for us, but that is not to say he won’t as he is in great form.

“I don’t think we will start him over hurdles as you nearly end up wasting a run doing that. I think I’m going to spread runs this season as he puts so much into each race. You could maybe use a hurdle race to bring him on, but he actually ends up having a hard race. I think we will go to Down Royal for his first run for the Champion Chase.

“It seems one of the weaker Grade Ones to go for before the Willie Mullins brigade comes out. It is a track that will suit him. I’ve always fancied the Savills Chase as well, so we might look at that later on as well. The owners love going to Ireland for a little trip so why not give it a go.”

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WATCH: Haiti Couleurs Winning The 2025 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow

Bouncing Back from Spring Disappointments at Cheltenham and Aintree

Haiti Couleurs will be looking to get his career back on track after a frustrating finish to his spring campaign.

Having put together a stellar run of form earlier in the season, his momentum hit a speed bump at the major spring festivals.

First, he lined up in the pinnacle event of jump racing-the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival-where he found the test demanding and was ultimately pulled up.

Hoping for better fortune over the famous spruce fences in the Aintree Grand National, Haiti Couleurs completed the gruelling trip under a heavy weight burden but faded late on to finish 14th.

Connections will hope the summer break has recharged his batteries as he aims to bounce back to his brilliant best at Down Royal.

Haiti Couleurs Career By Numbers