Paul Townend Booked to Ride Haiti Couleurs at Down Royal

Paul Townend is set to ride Haiti Couleurs in the BetVictor, Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, according to the PA News Agency. Townend, Willie Mullins' number one jockey, will deputise for the nine-year-old's regular pilot Sean Bowen, who is required at Wetherby to partner Strong Leader for trainer Olly Murphy. Haiti Couleurs is trained by Welsh handler Rebecca Curtis, who previously linked up with Townend for Cheltenham Festival success with Irish Cavalier in 2015. "Paul Townend is going to ride him and he's not a bad replacement," Curtis said, adding it was "nice to have Paul back on board one of mine." Haiti Couleurs made a winning start over hurdles at Newbury last year before winning the Welsh Grand National at Christmas and adding the Denman Chase. He failed to land a blow in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the spring, but had won the Irish Grand National in spring 2025. Curtis said she was happy with the horse's condition following a good break. Quoted as short as 7-2 with some bookmakers, Haiti Couleurs could face Ryanair Chase winner Heart Wood and Gordon Elliott's Romeo Coolio.