Haiti Couleurs put up an amazing efficiency to win the Boylesports Irish Grand Nationwide at Fairyhouse for Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen.
A winner on the Cheltenham Competition final month when his common Sean Bowen missed out, the champion jockey-elect within the UK was again within the saddle and gave his mount the right journey up entrance.
Despatched off at 13-2, Haiti Couleurs was within the entrance pair all through together with Bushmans Go and when that one dropped away it turned a case of might he maintain on.
The Ted Walsh-trained veteran Any Second Now emerged as an enormous menace, as did the favorite Quai De Bourbon, whereas Dunboyne had additionally travelled effectively into rivalry.
However Bowen had saved loads and he went away to win by three and 1 / 4 lengths from the gallant Any Second Now – who was ending within the runner-up spot for the second 12 months working – with Quai De Bourbon third and Dunboyne fourth.
Haiti Couleurs and Sean Bowen
Bowen instructed RTE: “I truthfully cannot consider it. He was doing a half-speed the entire means spherical, he was hacking and on the similar time I used to be frightened as he acquired pretty revved up beforehand.
“I really thought I am a bit too eager, as he was doing every little thing in second gear. I am so grateful to everybody, clearly I could not journey him at Cheltenham and I am so grateful to Becky for letting me again on him.
“He just stays very well and jumps very, very well. No words, no words.”
Bowen – who was having simply his second journey at Fairyhouse, his first being earlier within the day – added: “To be champion jockey is all I’ve ever wanted and I suppose 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.”
Curtis mentioned: “Sean just said to me there ‘I thought we had another circuit to go, I was in second gear the whole way’.
“He’s so powerful to do it like he has performed it, on that floor in addition to it was a little bit of a fear – but it surely wasn’t a trouble 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 feel this appears like certainly one of our greatest wins, simply the environment and every little thing.
“I did feel the pressure, I haven’t slept for about two weeks. I was calm until the last two fences.
“To me, it’s a greater win than Cheltenham as a result of it’s laborious to come back right here and win an Irish handicap, I do know that.”
When asked if he could be a Gold Cup horse next year, she replied: “If he retains bettering, sure.”
Found A Fifty bounces back to winning ways
Found A Fifty bounced back from a couple of below-par runs to land the Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase.
Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old has a good career strike-rate, having won five of his 10 runs over fences before his latest outing.
Discovered A Fifty acquired again to profitable methods at Fairyhouse
His victory over Solness within the Fortria Chase was up there with the choose of the shape on supply, though he was pulled up at Leopardstown over Christmas when off-colour after which overwhelmed a good distance by Marine Nationale within the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Again down into Grade Two firm he was despatched off a 5-1 likelihood underneath Sam Ewing and will all the time be picked out as going effectively.
Saint Sam made a daring bid from the entrance however a mistake two out capped his momentum and Discovered A Fifty went on to win by three-quarters of a size.
“In fairness, things didn’t happen for him (at Cheltenham). To be fair, Grade Two and Grade Three are probably his level. A good performance, he mightn’t just be a Grade One horse,” mentioned Elliott.
“If we keep him in that class next year, he could win loads of races. In fairness to Noel (Moran, Bective Stud), he let us take our time with him. Everything seemed to suit him today.”
Elliott added: “I wouldn’t say the horses weren’t in form (at Cheltenham), I’d say we were just having too many seconds and thirds. That has been the story of my life this season.
“We have now had an awesome season once more, we’ve had over 150 winners skilled. That is the sport we’re in, you have to maintain upping your sport and maintain attempting to win. I do know I am going to have extra seconds and thirds than anybody, you needn’t fear!”
