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- Haiti Couleurs Skips Ireland And Now Aims For Denman Chase At Newbury
The plan had been for the Welsh Grand National winner to challenge for the Irish Gold Cup as part of his preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
The dual Irish and Welsh Grand National winner had been under consideration for a return to Leopardstown, where trainer Rebecca Curtis was eager to test him against the strongest staying chasers on home soil.
READ MORE: Sean Bowen and Haiti Couleurs Confirmed as Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders
However, a combination of logistical and racing concerns ultimately prompted a change in direction.
Curtis explained the thinking behind the decision when she said: “It was a tough decision, but it just turned out there were too many negatives to taking him over.
“Firstly, he’d come off a few days of antibiotics at the beginning of the week, a very small sinus issue which was nothing really, that wasn’t our main issue.
“They cancelled our local ferry from the nearest port at Fishbourne which would have meant a big hike up to Holyhead and then across to Dublin.
“Thirdly, there was the uncertainty about the ground, they are due more rain again having already been waterlogged once this week so the likelihood is heavy ground, whether it will be that we don’t know.
“When the Gold Cup is his main aim we just thought everything wasn’t adding up for a good prep run for that, so we’ll definitely go to the Denman at Newbury next Saturday with him now.”
With the Cheltenham Gold Cup the overriding target later in the spring, Curtis was keen not to compromise the preparation of her star chaser.
She added: “He’s all well, there are no problems but you need everything aligned to be at your best at Cheltenham and we didn’t think that was happening, as we were using it as a prep we didn’t think it was ideal only six weeks out from Cheltenham.”
The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup has attracted a field of 13 runners, with Willie Mullins responsible for more than half the line-up, including reigning champion Galopin Des Champs.
