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- Sean Bowen And Haiti Couleurs Confirmed As Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders
Fresh from landing both the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals on Rebecca Curtis’s relentless and fearless stayer, Bowen is set to partner Haiti Couleurs after the horse was confirmed among the 33 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13.
It places a Welsh-trained, Welsh-ridden contender firmly into the spotlight of jump racing’s most prestigious prize and underlines the remarkable momentum Bowen has carried into the new year.
The reigning champion jockey has wasted no time in 2026, riding further winners despite recent weather disruptions, and he remains firmly on course to retain his title when the season concludes at Sandown in April.
After a stunning 2025 that yielded 232 winners, Bowen has already reached 170 victories this term, a figure he did not hit until the end of last season.
Only a dramatic collapse would now deny him back-to-back championships.
Among the standout moments of the past year were those emotional Grand National triumphs aboard Haiti Couleurs for Curtis, a trainer with whom Bowen shares a long-standing personal connection, having grown up close to her Pembrokeshire base.
READ MORE: Rebecca Curtis Chases Welsh Grand National Redemption with Haiti Couleurs
Now, that partnership could scale even greater heights on the biggest stage of all.
Curtis believes her Welsh Grand National hero deserves his place among the elite staying chasers and has already voiced confidence in his prospects at Cheltenham, saying Haiti Couleurs has “a serious chance” after his commanding success at Chepstow under a welter burden of 11st 13lb.
That performance, marked by relentless front-running and stamina, has earned him a shot at a race dominated by Irish-trained runners in recent years.
READ MORE: Sean Bowen and Rebecca Curtis Chase Welsh Double with Haiti Couleurs
The Gold Cup entries are headed by the last two winners, Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs, part of a formidable Irish contingent that has claimed the race for the past seven seasons and nine of the last ten.
A total of 23 Irish horses feature among the entries, but the British challenge is notably stronger than in recent renewals.
King George VI Chase winner The Jukebox Man is set to be aimed at the race by Ben Pauling, with stablemate Handstands also among the entries.
Grey Dawning, Myretown and Jango Baie add further domestic depth, while Haiti Couleurs stands out as a rare Welsh-trained hope with proven marathon credentials.
For Bowen, the Gold Cup entry represents another milestone in a career that continues to gather pace.
The 28-year-old, son of former Pembrokeshire trainer Peter Bowen, has already enjoyed a new year packed with notable successes.
A double at Uttoxeter on New Year’s Eve was followed by success at Cheltenham aboard Solly’s Gold, before he travelled north to Ayr to complete another brace.
Family honours have also been shared, with younger brother James Bowen enjoying a career-best campaign of his own.
James partnered Herakles Westwood to victory at Cheltenham, a horse connections believe could develop into a future Welsh Grand National contender.
Trained by Warren Greatrex, who supplies the bulk of James’s rides, Herakles Westwood is one of several progressive types in the yard, alongside All In You, who impressed in a competitive handicap hurdle at Sandown.
Welsh success was also evident elsewhere, with Carmarthen-based jockey Ben Jones registering his 50th winner of the season aboard Vanderpoel at Sandown, while Sam Thomas, training near Cardiff, saddled Range to land the 2m4f handicap hurdle on the same card.
Bowen’s relentless march has not been without interruption.
A recent cold snap forced several abandonments, including at Chepstow, where more Welsh winners might have been anticipated.
The track’s next scheduled meeting is January 27, but an additional fixture has been arranged at Ffos Las to ease congestion caused by the weather.
“The BHA is grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for its contribution to the funding of prize-money for this additional meeting, and to the participants, stable employees, raceday officials and others who will be servicing this fixture at short notice,” the British Horseracing Authority said in a statement.
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup entries (Cheltenham, March 13)
- Horse: Affordale Fury
Trainer: Noel Meade
Country: Ireland - Horse: Banbridge
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Country: Ireland - Horse: Champ Kiely
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Croke Park
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Country: Ireland - Horse: Envoi Allen
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Country: Ireland - Horse: Fastorslow
Trainer: Martin Brassil
Country: Ireland - Horse: Firefox
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Country: Ireland - Horse: Found A Fifty
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Country: Ireland - Horse: Gaelic Warrior
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Galopin Des Champs
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Gerri Colombe
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Country: Ireland - Horse: Gold Tweet
Trainer: Gabriel Leenders
Country: France - Horse: Grangeclare West
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Grey Dawning
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Country: UK - Horse: Haiti Couleurs
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
Country: UK - Horse: Handstands
Trainer: Ben Pauling
Country: UK - Horse: Heart Wood
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Country: Ireland - Horse: I Am Maximus
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Impaire Et Passe
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Inothewayurthinkin
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Country: Ireland - Horse: Jango Baie
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Country: UK - Horse: Konfusion
Trainer: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
Country: UK - Horse: Lecky Watson
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: L'Homme Presse
Trainer: Venetia Williams
Country: UK - Horse: Monty's Star
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Country: Ireland - Horse: Myretown
Trainer: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Country: UK - Horse: Nick Rockett
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Resplendent Grey
Trainer: Olly Murphy
Country: UK - Horse: Spillane's Tower
Trainer: Jimmy Mangan
Country: Ireland - Horse: Spindleberry
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Country: Ireland - Horse: Stellar Story
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Country: Ireland - Horse: The Jukebox Man
Trainer: Ben Pauling
Country: UK - Horse: Three Card Brag
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Country: Ireland
