Irish National prize goes to Wales as ‘Couleurs' scores for Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen

Irish Independent

21-04-2025

A winner at the Cheltenham Festival last month when his regular rider Sean Bowen missed out, the champion jockey-elect in the UK was back in the saddle and gave his mount the perfect ride up front.
Haiti Couleurs was in the front pair throughout along with Bushmans Pass and when that one dropped away it became a case of could he hold on. The Ted Walsh-trained veteran Any Second Now emerged as a big threat, as did 11/2 favourite Quai De Bourbon, while Dunboyne had also travelled well into contention.
But Bowen had saved plenty and his partner went away to win by just over three lengths from the gallant Any Second Now (finishing runner-up for the second consecutive year) with Quai De Bourbon third and Dunboyne fourth.
'I honestly can't believe it,' said Bowen. 'He was doing a half-speed the whole way round, he was hacking and at the same time I was frightened as he got fairly revved up beforehand.
'I actually thought I'm a bit too keen, as he was doing everything in second gear. I'm so grateful to everyone, obviously I couldn't ride him at Cheltenham and I'm so grateful to Becky for letting me back on him. He just stays very well and jumps very, very well.'
He added: 'To be champion jockey is all I've ever wanted and I supposed when you get it then you want to do more. I need the big winners as well and it's great that this lad has done it for me.'
Earlier, Gordon Elliott completed a Grade Two double when Found A Fifty bounced back from a couple of below-par runs to land the Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase.
The eight-year-old has a good career strike-rate, having won five of his 10 runs over fences before his latest outing.
Sent off a 5/1 chance, he was always going well under Sam Ewing as Saint Sam made a bold bid from the front. However, a mistake two out stopped the leader in his tracks and Found A Fifty went on to win by three-parts of a length.
'If we keep him in that class next year, he could win loads of races,' said Elliott.
The Elliott brace was initiated by the victory of Maxxum (14/1) which made all the running to win the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The eight-year-old was carrying a penalty for winning the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, but had been pulled up last time out in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.
Sent to the front by Danny Gilligan, Maxxum looked like a sitting duck at the top of the straight with Eagle Fang, Spread Boss Ted, Gala Marceau and Feet Of A Dancer all on his tail.
But Gilligan had saved plenty and kicked on again approaching the final flight, holding off the favourite Gala Marceau by three-quarters of a length.
'Danny gave the horse a beautiful ride,' remarked Elliott. 'He missed the third-last, but after that it was poetry in motion. He's a lovely, quiet rider and he suits this horse very well.
'Where we go with him, I don't know. He could be a horse to go to France, he's nearly better in a smaller field. We'll have a look and see.'
Willie Mullins was another trainer to record a double, spearhead by Blue Lemons' comfortable success in the O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle.
Down to Grade Two company after a poor run in the Triumph Hurdle, he briefly looked in trouble before sweeping to the front under Paul Townend to win by seven lengths from fellow 2/1 joint-favourite Its Bilbo.
Assistant trainer David Casey said: 'It was obviously a big step down from the Triumph. Paul said they went quick and it suited the way he rode him. He's in Punchestown and he'll probably run, I suppose. He may as well at this stage.'
Mullins had already won the opening novice handicap hurdle with the Mark Walsh-ridden Last Kingdom (10/1), which looked a long way ahead of his mark. 'He might make into a Lartigue horse (Listowel) down the line, he's only four. There's no real long-term plan with him,' said Casey.