Sport
Pembrokeshire trainer aims to strike blow for Wales ahead of Wales-England match
WALES’ best racehorse and leading Pembrokeshire trainer Rebecca Curtis can both strike a blow in the heart of English territory on Saturday, just a couple of hours before Wales run out at Twickenham.
Two hours before kick-off in the Six Nations clash, Haiti Couleurs, trained at Newport, Pembrokeshire by Curtis and ridden by Welsh champion jockey Sean Bowen, lines up for the William Hill Denman Chase, taking on some of the best staying chasers England and Ireland can offer.
As Wales attempt to upset England in west London, Curtis, Bowen and Haiti Couleurs are aiming to do much the same at one of England’s premier racecourses, Newbury.
Haiti Couleurs has become a flagbearer for Welsh racing over the past year, elevating his profile with a sequence of performances that have pushed him firmly into the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture.
The nine-year-old chaser has won four of his last five races and has been entered for both next month’s Gold Cup as well as April’s Aintree Grand National.
Over Christmas, Haiti Couleurs delivered one of the standout Welsh sporting moments of the winter by romping to victory in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow, giving Curtis her first success in the race.
Curtis – whose partner and training yard manager is former Ospreys star David Bishop – believes Haiti Couleurs continues to improve with every outing.
“He’s been truly amazing for the yard and he just keeps delivering,” said Curtis.
“He just seems to get better and better with every run. I think the fact he went on that nicer ground (in the Welsh National) just shows he has got that bit of class; it wasn’t an old slog in the mud.
“He’s won most of the handicaps he’s run in, so he just keeps going up and up and we’d like to try him now in graded company because he’s probably at the top-end of running in those staying handicaps and giving all that weight away.”
Saturday’s Denman Chase represents a major test.
Haiti Couleurs was originally set to travel to Ireland for the Irish Gold Cup last weekend, but concerns over travel and ground conditions prompted a rethink, with Curtis opting instead for Newbury.
“It’ll be very interesting on Saturday and going forward to the Gold Cup,” she said.
“He’s always been ridden handily or made the running, so I don’t think it really matters there are less runners.”
After a number of withdrawals due to the heavy conditions, only four horses will go to the start line, but the quality remains high.
Having given an Irish Sea crossing a miss last week, Curtis added: “I am happy that the ground is going to be fairly soft and testing, so at least his stamina should come into play.
“It’s a completely different test but he’s got good form around Newbury.”
The Irish Gold Cup only strengthened her belief that staying at home was the right call.
“Watching the Irish Gold Cup I was delighted we made the decision we made, there were too many question marks going into it for us with the travel and the ground, then watching it I thought they finished very tired horses.
“It just looked an old slog and I’m glad we stayed away for it.”
Haiti Couleurs is 4/6 for the Denman Chase with Welsh bookmakers DragonBe and remains a 10/1 chance for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Curtis confirmed that remains the ultimate aim.
“Providing he runs a good race this Saturday, even if he was to get beat but runs a good race, we’ll still end up going for the Gold Cup,” she said.
“I think you have a track that he absolutely loves, he loves going up and down hills, plus the extra two furlongs. I do think it takes a real stayer to the win the Gold Cup and whatever happens Saturday, providing it’s not horrendous, we’ll definitely be going to Cheltenham with him.”
Sport
South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls – Friendly League results week 21
LAST week’s fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association Friendly League produced a number of decisive results as teams continue to battle for position heading into the closing stages of the season.
Llanteg secured a narrow 6–4 victory over East Williamston, while St Johns delivered the standout performance of the week with a commanding 10–0 win against Hundleton.
Lamphey claimed an 8–2 result over St Twynnells, with Badgers matching that scoreline in their win against Cosheston. Reynalton also impressed, recording a dominant 10–0 victory over Kilgetty.
Carew had the bye.
League table after week 21:
East Williamston continue to lead the table, having played 19 matches, winning 13 and sitting on 126 points with a shot difference of +169.
St Johns remain close behind after 20 games, with 12 wins, one draw and seven losses, on 116 points and a shot difference of +132.
Reynalton sit third with eight wins and two draws from 19 matches, holding 99 points.
Carew are fourth on 98 points from 19 games, followed closely by Hundleton on 97 points after 19 matches, with ten wins and one draw.
Llanteg have played 18 matches and sit on 95 points, while St Twynnells, also on 18 games, have nine wins and two draws to reach 93 points.
Lamphey are on 80 points from 19 matches, with Badgers just behind on 79 points.
Cosheston have 74 points from 17 games, while Kilgetty currently sit bottom with 73 points from 19 matches.
Sport
Deadline extended for Cardiff Rugby takeover talks
THE DEADLINE for a proposed takeover of Cardiff Rugby has been pushed back, giving potential buyers more time to finalise a deal.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has granted Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media a further 30 days to continue negotiations, with the new deadline now set for Wednesday (Apr 22).
The original exclusivity period for talks has now expired, but discussions between both parties remain ongoing after the WRU board previously selected Y11 as its preferred bidder in January.
The extension comes at a tense time for Welsh rugby governance. WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood is due to face a vote of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting later this month, following pressure from leading figures within Central Glamorgan Rugby Union.
Clubs are also expected to vote on proposed changes to how WRU board members are appointed, despite the current representatives having only recently been re-elected.
The unrest follows controversial plans by the WRU to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales from four to three by 2027 — a move that has sparked concern across the game.
In a statement, the WRU confirmed that negotiations with Y11 have been ongoing since the group was chosen as the preferred bidder, with both sides continuing to work towards agreeing terms for the takeover.
Sport
Haverfordwest secure bonus-point win over title-chasing Tumble
HAVERFORDWEST produced one of their standout performances of the season to claim a 34–22 bonus-point victory away to title-chasing Tumble on Saturday (Mar 21).
The Blues showed composure and attacking intent throughout, running in five tries against one of the division’s strongest sides to underline their credentials in the closing stages of the campaign.
Tumble, who began the day among the league leaders, were expected to provide a stern test on home soil, but Haverfordwest rose to the challenge with a clinical display in both attack and defence.
Iori Curtis was named man of the match following an influential performance, crossing for a try and playing a key role in the visitors’ attacking phases.
The try scorers for Haverfordwest were Karl Busch and Jack Evans, while Curtis added his name to the scoresheet. Scott Candler led the way with a brace, helping to secure the all-important bonus point.
Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, converting three of the tries and adding a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
The result marks a significant win for the Blues, not only for the points gained but for the manner in which it was achieved against high-quality opposition.
Club officials also praised the travelling supporters and player sponsors for their continued backing, which they say remains vital to the team’s success.
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