Every so often, a horse comes along with a name that sounds more like a cocktail than a serious racehorse – but don’t let that fool you.
Haiti Couleurs is the talk of the track ahead of the 2025 Irish Grand National, and Rebecca Curtis could be holding something rather special in her hands.
The Fairyhouse showpiece has a habit of springing surprises, but this time, one of the favourites might just live up to the hype.
Curtis, no stranger to big-race success, has carefully plotted Haiti Couleurs’ path to this point.
With a sharp engine, bags of stamina, and a likeable racing style, this French-bred chaser has quietly built up a fanbase.
And now, heading into Easter Monday’s big race, he’s got punters wondering if this could finally be Curtis’s year to grab Irish National glory.
The Making of a Favourite
With a season marked by progressive form, a Cheltenham Festival triumph, and a trainer in resurgent form, Haiti Couleurs has captured the imagination of punters and pundits alike.
But is he the horse to finally deliver Curtis her first Irish National? Here’s why the answer could well be yes.
Haiti Couleurs, an eight-year-old by Dragon Dancer out of Inchala, has steadily built a reputation as a relentless stayer and a horse for the big occasion.
His career trajectory has been one of steady improvement, with the current season marking a breakthrough into the top echelon of staying chasers.
This season, Haiti Couleurs has raced five times, winning three, including a dominant performance in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
That day, he travelled smoothly and powered clear to win by four and a half lengths, confirming his stamina and class over a marathon trip.
Earlier, he scored at Cheltenham’s December meeting and at Aintree in November, both over extended distances, underlining his credentials as a true stayer.
His form figures this season read: 2-1-1-3-1, with the only defeats coming when second at Chepstow in October and third under top weight at Newbury in February.
Each run has showcased his relentless galloping style, tactical versatility, and ability to handle a range of ground conditions.
ODDS: 11/2
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Rebecca Curtis: The Trainer’s Resurgence
Rebecca Curtis, based in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is no stranger to big-race success, but recent seasons have been challenging due to a smaller string.
However, 2024-25 has marked a resurgence for the yard, with a 20% strike rate in the last fortnight and a Cheltenham Festival winner already on the board.
Curtis’s record in Ireland is notable, with past successes including Mystical Knight at Naas and Irish Cavalier at Punchestown. This year, she brings a six-strong team to Fairyhouse, led by Haiti Couleurs, in pursuit of her biggest Irish prize yet.
Speaking ahead of the race, Curtis expressed confidence: “He has all the right attributes to win the Irish Grand National. He seems very well in himself, he’s really good, he’s all healthy—it’s all systems go”.
Curtis’s decision to target the Irish National, rather than a Grade 1 at Aintree, was driven by Haiti Couleurs’ proven stamina and the excellent record of novices in this race.
Her meticulous planning and the horse’s consistency have given connections and punters every reason to believe.
Why Haiti Couleurs Deserves Attention
Haiti Couleurs’ profile fits the mould of recent Irish Grand National winners: a progressive novice, proven over long distances, and arriving on the back of a major spring success.
His Cheltenham win was achieved with authority, and the form has a solid look, with the runner-up and others franked in subsequent runs.
All his best form is at three miles and beyond, including a win over 3m6f at Cheltenham. The 3m5f trip at Fairyhouse should play to his strengths.
He has not finished outside the first three this season, with three wins from five starts.
His Cheltenham Festival win came in an 18-runner field, mirroring the cavalry charge he’ll face at Fairyhouse.
Sean Bowen, Britain’s champion jockey-elect, takes the ride. Bowen is in red-hot form with a 38% strike rate in the last fortnight, and his tactical nous could prove invaluable.
The Rivals: Who Stands in His Way?
The Irish Grand National always attracts a deep and talented field, and this year is no exception.
Among Haiti Couleurs’ chief rivals are:
Bioluminescence from trainer Gavin Cromwell. A Grade 2-winning mare, stays well, relishes soft ground, and has been runner-up in strong company.
Kinturk Kalanisi from Thomas Gibney. A progressive novice, was travelling strongly when unseating in the Leinster National, trainer won last year.
Quai De Bourbon from Willie Mullins. A talented novice, unlucky in recent Grade 1s, stamina to prove but retains untapped potential.
Bioluminescence is a relentless galloper who will be suited by testing conditions and shapes as if this trip could unlock further improvement. Trainer Gavin Cromwell is bullish about her chances, especially if the ground remains soft.
Kinturk Kalanisi is another unexposed type, representing last year’s winning trainer. He was still going well when coming to grief in the Leinster National and remains on a workable mark.
Quai De Bourbon, from the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard, has not completed in his last two Grade 1 starts but has shown flashes of class and could be a big danger if putting it all together.
Potential Limitations and Questions
While Haiti Couleurs presents an impressive profile and ticks many of the right boxes for the Irish Grand National, there are still a few considerations that warrant attention.
This will be his first start outside the UK, and although Rebecca Curtis’s horses have a history of travelling well, the unfamiliarity of a new environment always introduces an element of uncertainty.
In addition, while Haiti Couleurs has shown his versatility on various surfaces, the ground at Fairyhouse after heavy rain can pose a unique challenge, and he will need to demonstrate he can handle the searching 3m5f trip on potentially testing conditions.
Another factor is his handicap mark: he is now 6lb higher than when winning at Cheltenham, and although this may still leave him well-treated, he faces a deeper field filled with seasoned Irish handicappers.
Finally, there is the so-called “bounce factor” to consider—the quick turnaround from a demanding Cheltenham victory to another major test at Fairyhouse has caught out horses before.
Curtis has reported that Haiti Couleurs is in excellent health, but only the race itself will reveal if the exertions of the spring have left any mark.
Why Haiti Couleurs Could Shine
Haiti Couleurs brings the right blend of youth, stamina, and class to the Irish Grand National.
His Cheltenham win was the performance of a horse on the up, and his profile fits the template of recent winners.
With a trainer enjoying a renaissance and a top jockey booked, he has every chance of justifying favouritism.
The opposition is strong—Bioluminescence, Kinturk Kalanisi, and Quai De Bourbon all have compelling cases—but Haiti Couleurs’ proven stamina, consistency, and upward trajectory make him a standout.
If he handles the travel and the ground, and if the Cheltenham exertions have left no mark, he could well be the horse to end Rebecca Curtis’s Irish National drought and etch his name into Fairyhouse history.
As the runners go to post for the 2025 Irish Grand National, all eyes will be on the Brizzle Boys’ star. Haiti Couleurs has already delivered a day to remember at Cheltenham, now he has the chance to do the same at Fairyhouse.
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