HAITI COULEURS MADE every yard to land Grade One honours in the Envoi Allen Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Paul Townend – riding the nine-year-old for the first time – immediately sent the Rebecca Curtis-trained Irish and Welsh National hero to the front, with Banbridge keeping him company at the head of the five-runner field.
Gordon Elliott’s 11-8 favourite Romeo Coolio was the first of the principals to be beaten two furlongs out, with in contrast Haiti Couleurs (8-1) full of determination in front, putting his head down to in the end home home four and three-quarter lengths clear of Fleur In The Park.
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Townend said: “This race isn’t targeted by Willie (Mullins), as a rule nearly, so I always wanted to have a good crack at it.
“Rebecca, when she puts her eye on a prize like that, she isn’t too far away either.”
👏 HAITI COULEURS FROM THE FRONT!
Paul Townend doing what he does best in the Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase. https://t.co/KpWDI8jPIx
Meanwhile, at Wetherby, last year’s runner-up Pic d’Orhy was a cut above his rivals as he went one better on stable debut for Dan Skelton in the Charlie Hall Chase.
A prolific performer for Paul Nicholls, he had lost out by a length in this contest 12 months ago in a season where he failed to add to his career haul of 15.
He was switched to the champion trainer in the summer by owner Johnny de la Hay and the 10-11 favourite wasted little time in enhancing his CV, running out a bloodless six-and-a-half-length winner from Handstands under Harry Skelton.
He becomes only the second 11-year-old to win the Charlie Hall and the first since Arthur Stephenson’s Durham Edition in 1989, leading home a one-three for the Skelton team with Riskintheground taking the final podium spot.
"That's the way to do it!"
𝐏𝐢𝐜 𝐝'𝐎𝐫𝐡𝐲 brilliantly wins the @bet365 Charlie Hall Chase @WetherbyRaces https://t.co/yFiB3ymBQc
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Paul Townend teams up with Haiti Couleurs to win Down Royal showpiece
HAITI COULEURS MADE every yard to land Grade One honours in the Envoi Allen Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Paul Townend – riding the nine-year-old for the first time – immediately sent the Rebecca Curtis-trained Irish and Welsh National hero to the front, with Banbridge keeping him company at the head of the five-runner field.
Gordon Elliott’s 11-8 favourite Romeo Coolio was the first of the principals to be beaten two furlongs out, with in contrast Haiti Couleurs (8-1) full of determination in front, putting his head down to in the end home home four and three-quarter lengths clear of Fleur In The Park.
Townend said: “This race isn’t targeted by Willie (Mullins), as a rule nearly, so I always wanted to have a good crack at it.
“Rebecca, when she puts her eye on a prize like that, she isn’t too far away either.”
Meanwhile, at Wetherby, last year’s runner-up Pic d’Orhy was a cut above his rivals as he went one better on stable debut for Dan Skelton in the Charlie Hall Chase.
A prolific performer for Paul Nicholls, he had lost out by a length in this contest 12 months ago in a season where he failed to add to his career haul of 15.
He was switched to the champion trainer in the summer by owner Johnny de la Hay and the 10-11 favourite wasted little time in enhancing his CV, running out a bloodless six-and-a-half-length winner from Handstands under Harry Skelton.
He becomes only the second 11-year-old to win the Charlie Hall and the first since Arthur Stephenson’s Durham Edition in 1989, leading home a one-three for the Skelton team with Riskintheground taking the final podium spot.
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Down Royal Haiti Couleurs Horse Racing Paul Townend Pic D'Orhy Wetherby