There’s something of the Native River about Haiti Couleurs, and he can justify such comparisons stepping into Grade 1 company for the first time in the Betfair Chase of 2025 at Haydock Park on Saturday, 22 November. Consecutive wins in big handicaps in the spring suggest Rebecca Curtis’ stable star should be worth a shot at the highest level.
Where Native River landed the old Hennessy Gold Cup (Coral Gold Cup today) at Newbury and followed-up in the Welsh Grand National around Chepstow, Haiti Couleurs got experience of Cheltenham races into him first. The eight-year-old Dragon Dancer gelding delivered as joint-favourite in the National Hunt Chase during the Festival in March, then went in again with Irish Grand National glory at Fairyhouse.
Haiti Couleurs heads to Merseyside for a tilt at the Betfair Chase in 2025 off the back of landing a pipe opener over hurdles. That Newbury reappearance was something connections thought he would need, but he exploited a 9lb lower mark in that discipline to inadvertently qualify himself for the Pertemps Final. Not bad as a plan B. Haiti Couleurs’ future lies in staying steeplechases, though.
In order to establish himself as a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender, however, he must acquit himself well against the two horses who fought out the finish on Merseyside 12 months ago. On that occasion, Venetia Williams’ Royale Pagaille, something of a Haydock specialist, downed Grey Dawning from the Dan Skelton stable. Such a battle left its mark as both pulled up on their next starts.
Age may be catching up with the veteran Royale Pagaille now. He’s 11, rising 12, and didn’t recapture his peak form despite two further runs around a track he loves. As for Grey Dawning, he landed Kelso’s Premier Chase and finished runner-up in the Aintree Bowl.
Nothing in Betfair Chase 2025 Field to Frighten Haiti Couleurs
Neither should give connections of Haiti Couleurs much cause for concern. Grey Dawning has just the one Grade 1 win on his CV, with history against Royale Pagaille completing a hat-trick. Kauto Star, one of the truly great Cheltenham winners, is the only 11-year-old to land the Haydock showpiece. If rain falls on Merseyside during the day and conditions become testing, Haiti Couleurs will handle it.
His Irish Grand National success came on rain-softened ground and he stays further than the Haydock trip. Those poking holes in Haiti Couleurs’ profile point to a distant fourth on his only previous start at this venue. That was in the 2023 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle on bottomless ground, but he’s clearly improved since then and for fences.
A brilliant finish to our feature Grade One! 🏆
Handstands gets the better of Jango Baie in a thrilling renewal of the @VirginBet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase @benpauling1 pic.twitter.com/vjUL4lmG8a
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) February 1, 2025
Also in the Betfair Chase line-up this season is Scilly Isles scorer Handstands. Ben Pauling saw the form franked in subsequent months to that Sandown success by the runner-up, Jango Baie, landing the Arkle on Champion Hurdle day of the Cheltenham schedule, and fourth home Kalif Du Berlais winning a Grade 1 at Aintree.
Handstands hasn’t got his head in front since and, aged six, may be a bit young for the rigours of this race. Relative youth didn’t stop Kauto Star or Silviniaco Conti earning their first victories here at the same stage of their careers. Irish trainers struggle in this contest with just A Plus Tard successfully crossing from the Emerald Isle, but that doesn’t stop Gordon Elliott running Stellar Story.
He won the 2024 Albert Bartlett and a Grade 2 first time up over fences last season. Gigginstown House Stud don’t send any of their horses over to England just to make up the numbers, but the bookies like Stellar Story least of the five.
Betfair Chase 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
Some 12 months on from their epic battle here, Grey Dawning may well reverse form with Royale Pagaille. That is what Cheltenham betting sites expect to happen. However, HAITI COULEURS has an upwardly mobile profile and can prove himself better than a handicapper in a Grade 1 that looks winnable. Connections go for this instead of the Coral Gold Cup.
As for the others, Stellar Story is best caught fresh, but only placed at the highest level during the spring festivals. Handstands should strip fitter for his Colin Parker second to old rival Resplendent Grey at Carlisle, but there’s a feeling this extra test of his stamina might be coming a year too soon in his career.
WATCH: Royale Pagaille Beat Grey Dawning at Haydock
