Townend to Ride Haiti Couleurs in Down Royal Champion Chase

Paul Townend is set to ride Haiti Couleurs in the BetVictor, Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, according to RTÉ and the Daily Mirror. Willie Mullins' principal jockey, who linked up with Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis for Cheltenham Festival success with Irish Cavalier in 2015, deputises for the nine-year-old's regular pilot Sean Bowen. Bowen is committed to Wetherby for trainer Olly Murphy, where he is set to ride Strong Leader. "Paul Townend is going to ride him and he's not a bad replacement," Curtis said. "It's 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 earlier won the Irish Grand National in spring 2025. Curtis said the horse has summered well and is as short as 7-2 with some bookmakers for the race, which could also feature Ryanair Chase winner Heart Wood and Gordon Elliott's Romeo Coolio. "Now is the time to catch him when he's fresh," she added.