Latest news with #BoylesportsIrishGrandNational
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Grand National winner nearly died before running
Haiti Couleurs sparked jubilant scenes after winning the Boylesports Irish Grand National for Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis and jockey Sean Bowen earlier this week. The eight-year-old followed up his Cheltenham Festival victory with another success in the €500,000 contest at Fairyhouse, coming home ahead of the Ted Walsh-trained and Mark Walsh-ridden veteran Any Second Now, with Quai De Bourbon back in third under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins. Haiti Couleurs has now won over €355,000 in prize money for his owners, The Brizzle Boys, which is made up of accountant Simon Prowting, lawyer James Conyers and businessman Dave McDermott, who are all from Bristol. However, things could have been very different for the gelding after he suffered a serious tendon injury before he was seen on a racecourse. Curtis revealed on the At The Races' Unbridled podcast: "He had quite a bad injury after I bought him, he's obviously run in his point-to-point. I brought him back in for his novice hurdle season. "He was ready to run in Chepstow. And about two weeks before, we were schooling him, he sliced straight into the bottom of his tendon, had some surgery that day. Click on this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest Cheltenham Festival news and top stories from the Irish Mirror direct to your phone on WhatsApp. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Nearly a life-ending, career-ending injury and we basically had to miss all of that season and we didn't know if we were going to get him back. But I guess he had probably, I don't know, 18 months, 12, 18 months off. "So he's lucky really to be racing at all, let alone doing what he's doing." The trainer told how Haiti Couleurs got a bit warm before the Easter Monday race, but luckily it didn't affect his performance. "He did get a bit warm before the race," she said. "But I think there was just so much going on, parades, bands, anthems, long traveling. It did all get to him a bit, but obviously it didn't affect his performance. "And then he tried to sort of jump his way to the front of the horse, taking him on the whole way, which I thought, 'oh God, I hope he's going to get a breather in, not do too much', because he's got some eyes. But none of that seemed to matter. He just did it all really easy in his comfort zone." On the victory, she added: "He was absolutely amazing. I'm so, so chuffed for him, for the course, the owners. "It just couldn't have gone more smoothly, really, could it?"
Irish Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Strong Irish connection of Welsh-trained Irish Grand National winner
Haiti Couleurs became the first overseas winner of the Boylesports Irish Grand National since Shutthefrontdoor in 2014 after triumphing for Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis on Easter Monday. The eight-year-old put up a tremendous performance to win at Fairyhouse under Sean Bowen to follow up his victory in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Haiti Couleurs is owned by a syndicated named 'The Brizzle Boys', who hail from Bristol in England. It is made up of accountant Simon Prowting, lawyer James Conyers and businessman Dave McDermott. However, there is a strong Irish connection to the owners as James' wife Helena is from Donegal. He told RTE after the race: "There's a shout for Donegal as well. This is my wife Helena from Donegal." 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. Click on this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest Cheltenham Festival news and top stories from the Irish Mirror direct to your phone on WhatsApp. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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. The winning jockey said: '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.' 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."
The 42
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The 42
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 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 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. Advertisement 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.
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.
Irish Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Welsh dragon roars at Fairyhouse as Haiti Couleurs lands Irish Grand National
The Welsh dragon roared with a vengeance at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday as Haiti Couleurs landed the €500,000 Boylesports Irish Grand National. Britain's champion jockey-elect Sean Bowen guided the 13-2 shot to become the first cross-channel trained winner of Ireland's richest jumps race in 11 years. Runner-up for the second year in a row was Ted Walsh's gallant veteran Any Second Now, who was immediately retired afterwards. The 11-2 favourite Quai De Bourbon had to settle for third in the 30-runner contest. If Wales has its own 'National' at Chepstow every Christmas, this very much proved to be a Welsh National in Ireland. READ MORE Haiti Couleurs is trained by Rebecca Curtis in the west Wales racing outpost of Pembrokeshire, the same county Bowen is from. Geographically, Fairyhouse is closer to Curtis's yard than a lot of racecourses in Britain and she made her first visit to the Ratoath track count in spades. Having raced prominently throughout when successful at last month's Cheltenham festival, none of Haiti Couleurs' opposition could have been tactically surprised when he disputed the lead with Bushmans Pass from the start. Jockey Sean Bowen celebrates Haiti Couleurs win in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Knowing that and doing enough to pass him proved beyond everyone as Bowen enjoyed an armchair ride. Haiti Couleurs might have found the pre-race build-up a sweaty ordeal, but he was professionalism itself when it counted and ran out a convincing winner. It was just a second winner in Ireland for 27-year-old Bowen, who will be crowned British champion jockey for the first time at Sandown on Saturday. His previous Irish success was on the former Aintree National winner Noble Yeats at Wexford in 2022. 'I honestly can't believe it. He was doing a half speed the whole way around, 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,' beamed Bowen. It was just a third success in Ireland for Curtis, 45, who began her racing career working for Bowen's father, Peter, before starting to train on her father's dairy farm in 2008. She has enjoyed six Cheltenham festival victories and landed the 2018 Scottish Grand National with Joe Farrell. However, the significance of winning Ireland's richest race at a time of overwhelming Irish dominance in National Hunt racing was lost on no one. '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!' Curtis said. 'To me, it is a bigger win than Cheltenham because it is hard to come here and win an Irish handicap, I know that.' She added: '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. Danny Gilligan on Maxxum comes home to win the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho 'Although he stays well, he is not what I call a slow horse at all. He has got a high cruising speed. Could you ever imagine him being a Gold Cup horse, I don't know, but he's not slow.' In the 153rd Irish National Haiti Couleurs was the ninth British-trained winner of the historic race since the war. Curtis is the fifth woman to saddle the winner. Bowen was the first cross-channel based rider to win since Harry Skelton in 2009. An emotional Ted Walsh confirmed Any Second Now was finished racing at the age of 13 after another National near miss. JP McManus's horse was also runner-up at Aintree in 2022 and third the year before that in Liverpool. 'You never mind getting beat when there are no excuses and there were no excuses,' Walsh said. If the National continued its pattern of throwing up unlikely winners, much of the rest of Easter Monday's Fairyhouse action was dominated by Irish racing's big guns. Willie Mullins produced the first two winners in Last Kingdom and Blue Lemons while his Sortudo completed a hat-trick for the champion trainer in the concluding bumper. His big domestic rival Gordon Elliott enjoyed a Grade Two double. Maxxum was too good for the Mullins favourite Gala Marceau in the Rathbarry & Glenview Hurdle and Found A Fifty successfully concede weight all round in the €100,000 Fairyhouse Chase. Fifth to Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, Found A Fifty pounced on Saint Sam at the last and held off his rallying rival on the run in. 'To be fair, Grade Two and Grade Three are probably his level. He mightn't just be a Grade One horse. If we keep him in that class next year, he could win loads of races,' Elliott said.
