Table of Contents
- The World of Rebecca Curtis
- Pembrokeshire's Coastline
- Training Background
- Haiti Couleurs
- Challenges and Successes
- Responsible Gambling
The world in which trainer Rebecca Curtis has devoted most of her life is as stunning as it is unforgiving.
Pembrokeshire’s rugged coastline is one of the most picturesque locations you could find in the country, but on a frigid winter’s day, it’s not for the faint of heart.
Haiti Couleurs is set to compete for his first Grade 1 victory in the Betfair Chase on SaturdayCredit: Sportsfile
The eight-year-old is the standout horse at trainer Rebecca Curtis’ stableCredit: Huw Evans
Freezing winds blow off the Irish Sea, and powerful waves crash onto the beach at the base of the hill where Fforest Farm stable is located.
Curtis, 45, complains about the cold but isn’t shivering nearly as much as a soft Londoner like myself. She seems to have been shaped from the very limestone cliffs that create the dramatic scenery surrounding her stable.
She has trained at the family dairy farm since 2008 and points to an old wooden bike shed that was converted into a small stable 17 years ago.
“That’s all the boxes we had when I started. We trained three ordinary handicappers from Ireland and had limited funds, but it quickly took off,” she shares.
You need to be resilient in this profession, as jumps racing is not a sport for the faint-hearted. This is something her partner, former Ospreys rugby player David Bishop, is reminded of.
“I’m feeling nervous already ahead of Saturday,” he admits.
“Oh, don’t be such a wuss,” Curtis retorts.
To be fair, his nerves are justified, as they are about to discover whether their stable star, the beloved Haiti Couleurs, is ready for Grade 1 competition in today’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.
The result of today’s race will determine whether he can lead them to the coveted Cheltenham Gold Cup or the admirable alternative of a Grand National.
For Curtis, it’s a pleasant ‘problem’ to have, especially considering how bleak things appeared just a couple of years ago.
The Welsh trainer has experienced several ups and downs in the racing world, and nearly everything was going wrong until recently.
At the beginning of the 2022-23 season, the number of horses in her yard had fallen to its lowest point in over a decade, and she only managed to send out eight winners during a challenging campaign.
This stands in stark contrast to the early days of her career when she was winning races at the Cheltenham Festival almost every year and training for prominent owners like JP McManus.
She stated: “We had a terrible time, but you just have to keep working hard and maintain faith in yourself. You can never lose belief in yourself, especially since we’ve demonstrated over the years that we can achieve results.
“I’ve always had supportive people around me during tough times.
“What really keeps you going is the hope that you will find another horse like Haiti to take you back to the top.”
He certainly appears to be on the right track to doing that — although he still has some distance to cover before surpassing old Teaforthree as her favorite.
That fan-favorite stayer was the one who delivered Curtis her first Cheltenham victory in the 2012 four-miler — and he had a few admirers in high places, too.
She remarked: “We have been very fortunate over the years. Fishers Cross won at the Festival for JP, and I’ve had winners there with O’Faolins Boy, Irish Cavalier, and Lisnagar Oscar.
“You probably shouldn’t have favorites, but Teaforthree was truly a legend. The late Queen met him once, and her security guard told me he was one of her all-time favorite jumps horses, which was incredibly special for all of us.
“I’m no different from any other trainer; you want to train those exceptional horses and be competitive on the big days.”
Haiti Couleurs has proven to be more than just competitive. Not only did he win at Cheltenham in March, but he also triumphed over the Irish in their own territory the following month.
She continued: “Winning the Irish Grand National last season was probably more special than any of the Festival victories.
“The Irish are currently so dominant; to go over and win their premier race was an unforgettable experience. Sean Bowen rode him and couldn’t believe how easily he did it, so you’d like to think he is a Graded horse.”
This afternoon’s major race will serve as the ultimate test. The Betfair Chase has been won by legendary horses like Kauto Star, Imperial Commander, and Cue Card over the years, and this year, there isn’t anything of that caliber in the lineup.
However, Grey Dawning, Handstands, and Royale Pagaille are all high-quality competitors, making this the toughest race
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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