Haiti Couleurs Stepping Up For Betfair Chase Challenge
Connections of Haiti Couleurs can anticipate to have a clearer idea of where he stands in the staying division after the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The Rebecca Curtis-trained eight-year-old won four of his 5 novice begins over fences last season, rounding of his campaign with big-race triumphes in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham and the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Having blown away any cobwebs with a return victory over obstacles at Newbury little over a fortnight ago, a return to the Berkshire track for next weekend's Coral Gold Cup was mooted, however he rather steps up to Grade One level on Merseyside.
Big @Sean_Bowen_ drive!
Grand National favourite HAITI COULEURS remains on strongly, taking advantage of a mistake from Bill Baxter to score back over obstacles at @NewburyRacing ... @rebcurtis pic.twitter.com/RtWsbcYbUW
- At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 6, 2025
"He appears in excellent shape, it's a pity we have actually not got an extra week with him, however there's no sign at home that he's not fresh - he seems truly well in himself," stated the Welsh trainer.
"I believe Saturday will be actually intriguing and we'll sort of discover what level he's at, I think. I 'd rather find out this side of Christmas, due to the fact that (then) you sort of understand where you're pursuing Christmas and into the spring with him.
"Saying that, it is not going to be the be all and end all for him on Saturday. There are tracks that might match him a little bit much better and bring out a bit more improvement, however at the exact same time Haydock has great old straight and I think you have actually got to have an excellent stayer around there once the track's on the sluggish side."
Trainer Rebecca Curtis at Fairyhouse (Damien Eagers/PA)
Reviewing his reappearance win over the smaller barriers, Curtis added: "I wouldn't state I was totally surprised by it, as I understood he was extremely well at home and I understood he 'd enhanced a bit. Seeing the method he was taking a trip and jumping, I said after a couple of furlongs 'I believe he's going to win this'. I just get that sensation with him.
"He certainly looks a bit sharper since Newbury and he's a bit sharper in his work, not that we've worked him hard. I have actually generally simply thrown everything at him to freshen him up instead of stacking loads of work into him, so I can't tell you much off his home work, but he absolutely looks sharper."
In 2015's Betfair Chase saw the Venetia Williams-trained Haydock professional Royale Pagaille successfully defend his crown at the primary expenditure of Grey Dawning, who is favourite to go one much better 12 months on, with his fitness instructor Dan Skelton admitting there will be "no reasons" this time around.
is a hot favourite for the Betfair Chase (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Skelton stated: "I 'd never ever want to take anything far from the winner last year, but I simply felt the conditions got us. I'm absolutely not taking anything far from the winner, however I wouldn't have minded 10mm (of rain) less.
"The race wants to have a bit of depth to it and last season we were in the position some of these will be in this year, getting out of novice business with some good wins to our name but requiring to step up.
"I constantly feel that is a hard thing to do however if you have Grade One type, then of course they can and I have a great deal of regard for those beginners showing up and also a lot of regard for Venetia's horse.
"I would like to begin this year with a Grade One and I feel there is a bit of unfinished company with the race - we'll be heading there with no excuses."
Another classy newbie from last season bidding to show himself in open business is Ben Pauling's Handstands, who looked a little ring-rusty when touched off by Resplendent Grey in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle three weeks ago.
Ben Pauling (ideal) has big expectations for Handstands (Steven Paston/PA)
Pauling is expecting to see a sharper variation of the six-year-old this weekend, saying: "I have more faith in this horse than you could ever imagine - I just believe he has a huge engine.
"I'm a realist and I think this is his finest possibility of a Grade One this season. In our wildest dreams he might be a Gold Cup horse, however we need to be honest and say by March things will be a lot hotter again and this has to be our finest opportunity of a Grade One - we'll attempt to take it."
Gordon Elliott's Irish raider Stellar Story completes the five-strong field.