Sean Bowen secured a win on home turf by riding Haiti Couleur to victory in the 2025 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. Trained by Rebecca Curtis, Haiti Couleur triumphed by three lengths, boasting a record of five wins and one loss.
The eight-year-old Haiti Couleur, previously victorious in the 2024 Irish National, now looks forward to targeting the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March. Haiti Couleur finished ahead of O’Connell, who claimed second place, while Deanning Silence came in third and Livin’ on Luko finished fourth.
Seventeen horses started the race, with last year’s winner Nassalam and the recent Midlands Grand National champion Vango both withdrawing. The favorite, Jubilee Express, ridden by Kieran Woods, initially led but faltered on the second lap, dropping five positions by the end.
Throughout the race, Sean Bowen positioned himself just behind the favorite, setting a fast pace of 3 minutes and 6 seconds per mile, but it was not enough for Jubilee Express to maintain his lead. Bowen and Curtis, who previously teamed up to win the Irish Grand National last season, effectively used a front-running strategy once again.
Though Haiti Couleur was withdrawn early in his last race at Haydock, Curtis attributed it to a demanding schedule with only 16 days between runs and expressed satisfaction with today’s performance. She admitted concern over his weight but praised his strong finish, saying, “This is a race we’ve wanted to win for years.”
Champion jockey Bowen, leading the Jockey Championship with 162 wins this season and a striking 25% success rate, described his victory on home ground as “unbelievable.” He also commended Rebecca Curtis for her remarkable training and spoke highly of the horse’s potential, hoping Haiti Couleur could become a Gold Cup contender, even though the exact path remains uncertain.
Fan Take: This victory not only showcases the incredible skill of Sean Bowen and Rebecca Curtis but also signals the rise of Haiti Couleur as a major contender in upcoming prestigious races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup. For horse racing enthusiasts, it represents thrilling prospects for the sport’s future with new champions emerging on iconic stages.
