It did not have the sheer relentlessness of the parading talents at last weekend’s Dublin racing festival in Ireland, but the final afternoon here on Saturday of significant trials for the Cheltenham festival offered further cause for hope that the Irish will not have things all their own way next month.
Haiti Couleurs, the Denman Chase winner, is the latest British-trained contender at single-figure odds for the Gold Cup on 13 March, alongside The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie, first and fourth respectively in the King George VI Chase in December. The unbeaten five-year-old, Lulamba, is the near-certain favourite for the Arkle Trophy, after maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Game Spirit Chase.
