{"id":45303,"date":"2024-12-17T13:31:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T13:31:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cheltenhambettingsites.co.uk\/?p=45303"},"modified":"2024-12-17T13:31:57","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T13:31:57","slug":"haiti-couleurs-transmission-2025-national-hunt-chase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheltenhambettingsites.co.uk\/blog\/haiti-couleurs-transmission-2025-national-hunt-chase\/","title":{"rendered":"December 1-2 Haiti Couleurs & Transmission Could Go for 2025 National Hunt Chase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A decade on from saddling his only Cheltenham Festival winner, Neil Mulholland has a decision to make about Transmission. The Limpley Stoke trainer currently favours the National Hunt Chase over the Kim Muir for his eye-catching December Meeting runner-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on how he shaped when chasing home Haiti Couleurs in an extended 3m 1f novices’ limited handicap chase, staying races look tailor-made for the Doyen gelding who gained plenty of course experience this autumn.<\/p>\n With Cheltenham form figures of 212 and a revised mark of 133, stamina tests beckon in the spring. Transmission ran out a nice winner of a 3m 1f amateur jockeys only race under Patrick Mullins at the November Meeting off 4lb lower.<\/p>\n That and his staying on second from off the pace on the New Course mean the Kim Muir, which like the National Hunt Chase from this season onwards is a 0-145 race<\/a>, could also come under consideration.<\/p>\n “There are longer races around there coming up in the future,” said Mulholland after Transmission finished second to Haiti Couleurs. “That National Hunt Chase would be his prime target.<\/p>\n “He’s had three runs around Cheltenham now and been second, first and second. As he did his best work at the end, we’re well aware that he wants stepping up in trip.”<\/p>\n Plotting a route back to the Festival for Transmission may include reverting back to hurdles to protect his mark. Mulholland mooted the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day or the Sussex Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton that he won in 2024 as possible next targets with the aim of keeping him fresh.<\/p>\n Haiti Couleurs advertised his own claims after jumping well and accounting for Transmission by nearly three lengths. Trained in Wales by Rebecca Curtis, the son of Dragon Dancer has a 5lb higher mark of 135 now.<\/p>\n Curtis has five Festival winners to her name with Lisnagar Oscar latterly pulling off a 50\/1 shock in the 2020 Stayers’ Hurdle. Her maiden Grade 1 victory was one of the Cheltenham favourites<\/a> of 2013, At Fishers Cross in the Albert Bartlett.<\/p>\n Newport handler Curtis now seems torn between the National Hunt Chase and Grade 1 Brown Advisory on Style Wednesday, however. Connections have plenty of time decide which route to go down, though.<\/p>\n “I really fancied him for the National Hunt Chase because he stays all day,” Curtis said of Haiti Couleurs. “But Sean [Bowen] said he’s improved so much since his Aintree win, you wouldn\u2019t know if he’ll end up in the Brown Advisory.\u201d<\/p>\nNational Hunt Chase or Brown Advisory Dilemma for Curtis<\/h2>\n