Haiti Couleurs - from 'career-threatening' injury to Gold Cup hope

More than three decades since a Welsh-trained horse won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Wales can boast one of the 2026 favourites.

It would be another triumph for Haiti Couleurs in a spectacular career that was almost over before it started.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained nine-year-old has already won the Welsh Grand National and Denman Chase this season and has long been aimed for the Cheltenham highlight.

However, it has been a long road for Curtis who feared the horse may never run again after picking up an injury a couple of weeks before his planned debut.

"He had a nasty injury when he was ready to run over hurdles at Chepstow, he struck straight into his tendons and needed the best part of 18 months off," explained Curtis.

"He was always a bit of a weak, backward horse, you wonder if having that time off on the sidelines has been the making of him, he's just been allowed to mature and progress."

The impressive gelding ran his first race under rules at Chepstow in December 2023, but his National Hunt Chase win at Cheltenham last year caught the eye.

"He has genuinely just kept progressing with each run," added Curtis.

"Each time Sean Bowen gets on him, he thinks he's got better and better."

Haiti Couleurs followed up his Cheltenham win with a stunning Irish Grand National win at Fairyhouse.

"It was amazing because we always whinge that the Irish come over here and beat us all the time, so I think going over there and doing it on their own doorstep, people loved it," said Pembrokeshire-based trainer Curtis.

"We got a great reception. I do actually think the Irish like horses coming over and giving good competition and Haiti has always been quite a popular horse.

"I think because of the way he races as well, there's something about him and his colours.

"He puts everything into it, doesn't he, and I think everyone loves those staying chasers."

The team finished off 2025 with victory in the Welsh Grand National, with the horse winning off the largest weight in the race's history.

It was the first time Curtis had won the race and she joined an exclusive list of trainers to have won the Welsh, Scottish and Irish nationals. Now she is eyeing an English National.

"Haiti is definitely an English National type horse. The race is very, very hard to win obviously, but I think winning a Gold Cup is probably harder, you've got to have that more elite type horse."

It has been 36 years since Carmarthenshire-based dairy farmer Sirrell Griffiths won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with 100-1 shot Norton's Coin.

However, Curtis has enjoyed plenty of Cheltenham Festival success since starting her training career in 2008.

Her first winner was in 2012, when Teaforthree won the Amateur Riders Chase, with the horse going on to finish second in the English Grand National the following year.

She sends a strong team to this year's festival, but all eyes will be on Friday, 13 March at 16:00 GMT, when Haiti Couleurs lines up in the most prestigious race of the week - the Gold Cup.

"I think the race will really suit him," said Curtis.

"He seems to love Cheltenham, he's won twice around there already. I just think he's got everything you need for a Gold Cup.

"He travels strongly, he jumps well, and I do think you need a real stayer for the Gold Cup, three miles and two and a half furlongs, a big hill finish, and go an end-to-end gallop.

"So yeah, we'll see, I think he's got all the right credentials for it."