Latest news with #BoyleSportsIrishGrandNational
Powys County Times
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Haiti Couleurs collects brilliant Irish National victory
Haiti Couleurs put up a tremendous performance to win the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse for Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen. A winner at the Cheltenham Festival last month when his regular rider Bowen missed out, the champion jockey-elect in the UK was back in the saddle and gave his mount the perfect ride up front. Sent off at 13-2, 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 Brits strike in the €500,000 @BoyleSports Irish Grand National Haiti Couleurs & @sean_bowen land the @Fairyhouse feature for @rebcurtis — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 21, 2025 The Ted Walsh-trained veteran Any Second Now emerged as a big threat, as did the favourite Quai De Bourbon, while Dunboyne had also travelled well into contention. But Bowen had saved plenty and he went away to win by three and a quarter lengths from the gallant Any Second Now – was was finishing in the runner-up spot for the second year running – with Quai De Bourbon third and Dunboyne fourth. Bowen told RTE: 'I honestly can't believe it. 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. No words, no words.' Bowen – who was having just his second ride at Fairyhouse, his first being earlier in the day – 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.' Pembrokeshire-based Curtis said: 'Sean just said to me there 'I thought we had another circuit to go, I was in second gear the whole way'. 'He is so tough to do it like he has done it, on that ground as well as it was a bit of a worry – but it wasn't a bother to him. 'He does (travel through his races). Although he stays well, he is not what I call a slow horse at all. He has got a high cruising speed. 'I think this feels like one of our best wins, just the atmosphere and everything. 'I did feel the pressure, I haven't slept for about two weeks. I was calm until the last two fences. 'To me, it is a bigger win than Cheltenham because it is hard to come here and win an Irish handicap, I know that.' When asked if he could be a Gold Cup horse next year, she replied: 'If he keeps improving, yes.' Following the race, Walsh announced the JP McManus-owned Any Second Now – who has also finished runner-up and third in the Grand National at Aintree – had run his last race and would be retired.
Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Horse trained in Wales captures Irish Grand National to give Sean Bowen biggest win
Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis, made all the running under Sean Bowen to land Ireland's richest jumps race on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse A horse trained in west Wales captured the BoyleSports Irish Grand National to give jockey Sean Bowen the biggest success of his career. Haiti Couleurs, trained in Newport, Pembrokeshire, has propelled his trainer Rebecca Curtis back into the big race spotlight this season. He has won three of his four starts over fences and proved his stamina credentials with a four and a half length victory in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Under Bowen, the 13-2 chance led from the start and found plenty at the finish to repel the late challenge of veteran Any Second Now leaving the 13-year-old to settle for second for the second year running. The Willie Mullins-trained favourite Quai De Bourbon finished third and Dunboyne fourth. Bowen, also from Pembrokeshire, will be crowned Britain's champion jump jockey for the first time on Saturday and victory in the £428,000 race at Fairyhouse, the richest jumps race run in Ireland, topped his other big race accomplishments. Bowen said: 'I can't quite believe how easy it was all happening. He got into a great rhythm and jumped amazing. What a job Becky's done to keep bringing him back this season. 'There are two main Nationals, the Irish National and the English National. To win this and top of the season I've had is incredible. 'When you are champion jockey I thought that would fulfil my dreams but you always want a bit more and want them big winners and a big winner we've had.' Curtis has trained six Cheltenham Festival winners but Haiti Couleur's victory in March was her first for five years. Curtis said: 'I am so proud of the little horse. I got excited at the second last. I knew he would keep going because he is so tough. It's just brilliant. 'It's amazing, a massive boost to the yard and brilliant for the owners. It puts a little bit of faith back in them to hopefully reinvest. What we need now is a few more nice type horses. That's what we've been lacking over the last five to eight years. 'I don't have owners that can spend hundreds of thousands. We bought him for £68,000. I just like him as a horse. Could you imagine he could be a Gold Cup horse. He's not slow and he loves Cheltenham."
South Wales Guardian
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Haiti Couleurs collects brilliant Irish National victory
A winner at the Cheltenham Festival last month when his regular 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. Sent off at 13-2, 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 Brits strike in the €500,000 @BoyleSports Irish Grand National Haiti Couleurs & @sean_bowen land the @Fairyhouse feature for @rebcurtis — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 21, 2025 The Ted Walsh-trained veteran Any Second Now emerged as a big threat, as did the favourite Quai De Bourbon, while Dunboyne had also travelled well into contention. But Bowen had saved plenty and he went away to win by three and a quarter lengths from the gallant Any Second Now – was was finishing in the runner-up spot for the second year running – with Quai De Bourbon third and Dunboyne fourth. Bowen told RTE: 'I honestly can't believe it. 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. No words, no words.' Bowen – who was having just his second ride at Fairyhouse, his first being earlier in the day – 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.' Curtis said: 'Sean just said to me there 'I thought we had another circuit to go, I was in second gear the whole way'. 'He is so tough to do it like he has done it, on that ground as well as it was a bit of a worry – but it wasn't a bother to him. 'He does (travel through his races). Although he stays well, he is not what I call a slow horse at all. He has got a high cruising speed. 'I think this feels like one of our best wins, just the atmosphere and everything. 'I did feel the pressure, I haven't slept for about two weeks. I was calm until the last two fences. 'To me, it is a bigger win than Cheltenham because it is hard to come here and win an Irish handicap, I know that.' When asked if he could be a Gold Cup horse next year, she replied: 'If he keeps improving, yes.' Following the race, Walsh announced the JP McManus-owned Any Second Now – who has also finished runner-up and third in the Grand National at Aintree – had run his last race and would be retired.
North Wales Chronicle
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Haiti Couleurs collects brilliant Irish National victory
A winner at the Cheltenham Festival last month when his regular 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. Sent off at 13-2, 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 Brits strike in the €500,000 @BoyleSports Irish Grand National Haiti Couleurs & @sean_bowen land the @Fairyhouse feature for @rebcurtis — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 21, 2025 The Ted Walsh-trained veteran Any Second Now emerged as a big threat, as did the favourite Quai De Bourbon, while Dunboyne had also travelled well into contention. But Bowen had saved plenty and he went away to win by three and a quarter lengths from the gallant Any Second Now – was was finishing in the runner-up spot for the second year running – with Quai De Bourbon third and Dunboyne fourth. Bowen told RTE: 'I honestly can't believe it. 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. No words, no words.' Bowen – who was having just his second ride at Fairyhouse, his first being earlier in the day – 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.' Curtis said: 'Sean just said to me there 'I thought we had another circuit to go, I was in second gear the whole way'. 'He is so tough to do it like he has done it, on that ground as well as it was a bit of a worry – but it wasn't a bother to him. 'He does (travel through his races). Although he stays well, he is not what I call a slow horse at all. He has got a high cruising speed. 'I think this feels like one of our best wins, just the atmosphere and everything. 'I did feel the pressure, I haven't slept for about two weeks. I was calm until the last two fences. 'To me, it is a bigger win than Cheltenham because it is hard to come here and win an Irish handicap, I know that.' When asked if he could be a Gold Cup horse next year, she replied: 'If he keeps improving, yes.'
RTÉ News
21-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Breaking Haiti Couleurs wins Irish Grand National
Joint-favourite Haiti Couleurs has won the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Ridden by Sean Bowen and trained by Rebecca Curtis, the eight-year-old has now won four out of five races over fences and showed great resolve to hold off a strong finish from Any Second Now with Quai De Bourbon taking third. Welsh raider Haiti Couleurs (13-2) triumphs in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National under a brilliant ride from Sean Bowen for trainer Rebecca Curtis. 📺 Watch live racing from Fairyhouse: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 21, 2025
