William Hill Denman Chase
Grade 2 Handicap, Newbury 14:10
£90,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
2m7½f, Class 1   
Saturday 7th February 2026

1 Haiti Couleurs 5/6F
2 L'Homme Presse 2/1
3 Leave Of Absense 4/1
4 ran Distances: 7l, 10l, 35l
Time: 6m 16.91s (slow by 28.61s)

Haiti Couleurs turned the race into a thorough examination from the front, making every yard and in doing so placing himself firmly in the Gold Cup conversation.

Rebecca Curtis’ stable star has steadily climbed the ladder, graduating from handicaps with victory in last season’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham before adding the Irish National to his growing list of achievements. This campaign has not been without its twists, an early hurdle success followed by a disappointing effort in the Betfair Chase forcing a brief pause for thought, but a rousing Welsh National win restored momentum and belief.

In deep, very soft ground, Sean Bowen was keen to make it a proper stamina test from flagfall. Haiti Couleurs was not quite as fluent as usual early on, getting a touch low at a few fences, but his rhythm gradually improved as the race unfolded.

L’Homme Presse and Leave Of Absence loomed up menacingly approaching the third last, yet it was at that point Haiti Couleurs truly came into his own. Stretching on powerfully, he found more in the conditions, showing a telling change of gear to pull clear and score by seven lengths.

The performance did not go unnoticed, with Paddy Power trimming him to 7-1 from 10-1 for the Gold Cup, and Curtis admitted relief as much as excitement once the dust had settled.

She said: “There were lots of expectations today and he’s gone and shown he must have some sort of chance in the Gold Cup. L’Homme Presse is a really good yardstick and although I’m not saying he’s gone and beaten a Gold Cup field, he’s done really well.

“I was really nervous and I’m just glad it is out the way. He likes to be ridden positively and we weren’t going to change that and just keep it simple.

“I was confident he was more than a handicapper and it’s not like he’s been beaten in a handicap and you know where their mark is. He’s practically unbeaten in handicaps and we still don’t probably know where his ceiling is.

“He’ll enjoy the Gold Cup trip and he loves going up and down hills and undulating tracks. It was Sean in fact who said how much he loves going fast down hill and he has great balance.”

For Bowen, the victory offers the tantalising prospect of heading to Cheltenham with a leading contender as he continues his quest for a first win at the Festival.

Bowen said: “He was a bit cold in front on his own and he’s never had to make the running right from the start. He was careful at a few early on and warmed up nicely into it and then actually showed a turn of foot when they came to him and I was surprised how well he quickened.

“He’s just a good horse and he makes it easy for you. He’s going to be a horse that three-miles-two around Cheltenham and then up the hill will really suit him. Whether he is good enough or not I don’t know but everything will suit him on the day.

“He loves Cheltenham which is a big asset to any Gold Cup horse and he will stay all day and jump and he just does things like a good horse. Whether he’s good enough after the back of the last we don’t know but he’ll definitely be there pitching turning in.”

He added: “You want to be riding in Gold Cups and I have only ridden in one and finished fourth, so to finish a few places higher would be nice.”

William Hill Denman Chase
£90,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 7f 86y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Heavy, Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Haiti Couleurs 9 11-6 Rebecca Curtis Sean Bowen 5/6F
2 7 L'Homme Presse 11 11-8 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 2/1
3 10 Leave Of Absence 9 11-2 Anthony Honeyball Rex Dingle 4/1
4 35 Riskintheground 9 11-8 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 40/1

William Hill Denman Chase – Roll of Honour

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN

2025 DJELO Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7 11-8 6/4F 7
2024 SHISHKIN Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10 11-8 8/11F 5
2023 ZANZA Philip Hobbs Tom O'Brien 9 11-2 16/1 7
2022 ELDORADO ALLEN Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell 8 11-06 6/1 5
2021 SECRET INVESTOR Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost 9 11-00 14/1 7
2020 NATIVE RIVER Colin Tizzard Jonjo O'Neill Jr 10-11-06 2/5F 6
2019 CLAN DES OBEAUX Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 07-11-06 2/5F 4
2018 NATIVE RIVER Colin Tizzard Richard Johnson 08-11-06 8/11F 3
2017 NATIVE RIVER Colin Tizzard Aidan Coleman 07-11-06 11/10 3
2016 HOUBLON DES OBEAUX Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman 09-11-00 3/1 7
2015 CONEYGREE Mark Bradstock Richard Johnson 08-11-05 15/8F 6
2014 HARRY TOPPER Kim Bailey Jason Maguire 07-11-10 7/2 5
2013 SILVINIACO CONTI Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-10 8/11F 8
2012 LONG RUN Nicky Henderson Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 07-11-10 4/7F 5
2011 NOLAND Paul Nicholls A P McCoy 10-11-00 13/2 5
2010 TRICKY TRICKSTER Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-03 8/1 6
*2009 MADISON DU BERLAIS David Pipe Tom Scudamore 08-11-06 12/1 7
2008 DENMAN Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas 08-11-10 1/4F 4
2007 KAUTO STAR Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-00 2/9F 6
2006 Abandoned – Frost
2005 FARMER JACK Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson 09-11-06 12/1 8
2004 SHOOTING LIGHT Martin Pipe Richard Johnson 11-11-00 33/1 8
2003 VALLEY HENRY Paul Nicholls Barry Geraghty 08-11-06 4/1 6
2002 BACCHANAL Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 08-11-10 5/4F 7
2001 SHOTGUN WILLY Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 07-11-10 4/1 5
2000 SEE MORE BUSINESS Paul Nicholls Mick Fitzgerald 10-11-10 1/3F 6

*Run at Kempton Park when Newbury’s card was abandoned because of snow

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