Sport

Sean Bowen set for historic Welsh clash at Cheltenham Gold Cup

Published

1 month ago

March 9, 2026

PEMBROKESHIRE jockey Sean Bowen could be part of a historic all-Welsh showdown when he lines up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup later this week.

Bowen and fellow Welsh rider Ben Jones are set to go head-to-head in jump racing’s most prestigious race on Friday — the showpiece event on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

In what is believed to be the first time in living memory, two Welsh jockeys will ride leading contenders in the famous race, which is widely regarded as the pinnacle of National Hunt racing.

Champion jockey Bowen will partner Haiti Couleurs, the Welsh Grand National winner trained in Newport, Pembrokeshire, by leading trainer Rebecca Curtis.

Jones will ride the unbeaten The Jukebox Man, a rapidly rising star trained by Ben Pauling and owned by former football manager Harry Redknapp.

Both jockeys developed their careers on Welsh racecourses such as Ffos Las and Chepstow, but Cheltenham now offers a chance for glory on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

With the Gold Cup traditionally dominated by Irish-trained horses and runners from the largest British yards, the prospect of two Welsh jockeys battling for victory has become one of the most talked-about stories in Welsh racing ahead of the Festival.

Both arrive at Cheltenham with genuine hopes in what many pundits believe is one of the most open renewals of the race in recent years.

For Bowen, who looks set to retain his Champion Jockey title this season, the Gold Cup represents the ultimate prize.

The Little Newcastle native believes Haiti Couleurs has the stamina and temperament needed for Cheltenham’s gruelling test.

“You never know till the day, he’ll definitely love the track. He’ll definitely stay very, very well. And look, he’s a very, very good horse,” said Bowen.

“Hopefully he’s the best on the day. But you never know going into those races — I think it’s probably the widest open Gold Cup there’s been in a long time. Hopefully we’re thereabouts.”

Haiti Couleurs carries perhaps the strongest Welsh storyline. Trained by Curtis on the beaches near Newport, the nine-year-old is attempting to become only the second Welsh-trained horse ever to win the Gold Cup.

The only previous Welsh success came in 1990 when the 100-1 outsider Norton’s Coin produced one of the biggest shocks in the race’s history.

Unlike that famous upset, Haiti Couleurs arrives with strong credentials after winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December.

Already a Cheltenham Festival winner after landing last season’s National Hunt Chase, the powerful staying chaser has continued to improve and heads to the race among the leading contenders following victory in the Grade Two Denman Chase at Newbury earlier this year.

Curtis said the horse could hardly have done more in his final preparation for the Festival.

“I was delighted — I don’t really think he could have done any more,” she said.

“He was lonely in front, jumping that horrible ground. It just looked like he was in third gear and then when something came to him, he quickened away and jumped nicely up the straight and sort of put the race to bed, which is what we wanted.

“I didn’t want him to have an overly hard race with Cheltenham so close, so I was very pleased.”

Curtis believes the horse’s steady improvement over the past two seasons has turned him into a genuine Gold Cup contender.

“He’s been amazing, he’s run some real legendary type races — the Irish National and the Welsh National. To be going into the Gold Cup with single-figure odds is amazing,” she added.

“We always thought he was a very nice horse as a young horse, but he’s just improved with every single run.

“He wouldn’t be one of those you’d work at home and go ‘wow’, but like Sean said, you put three miles and fences in front of him and he comes alive.”

Haiti Couleurs’ proven stamina in marathon contests — including victories in the Irish Grand National and Welsh Grand National — suggests the punishing three miles and two furlongs of the Gold Cup could play directly to his strengths.

While Haiti Couleurs represents a traditional staying powerhouse, Jones arrives at Cheltenham with one of the most exciting young chasers currently in training.

The Jukebox Man has won all four of his starts over fences, including a breakthrough victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Jones — whose father Dai is clerk of the course at Chepstow — has ridden the horse in each of those victories and has developed a strong bond with the unbeaten chaser.

“I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse in the race,” he said.

“It’s a bit annoying that it’s on the Friday and I’ll have to wait all week to get my leg up on him, but it’s very, very exciting.

“He’s never let me down, and I’ve won on him every time I’ve sat on him.”

This year’s race promises to be fiercely competitive.

Leading Irish contender Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out, but Inothewayurthinkin brings proven Grade One form and strong Festival credentials, ensuring the traditional Irish challenge remains formidable.

However, many observers believe the race lacks a clear dominant favourite, giving both Bowen and Jones a realistic chance of success.

If either rider manages to guide their mount up the famous Cheltenham hill in front on Friday afternoon, it would mark a landmark moment for Welsh racing — and one of the standout stories of this year’s Festival.

Sport

Castrol MEM Rally Team targets title push as BRC season begins

Published

2 days ago

April 8, 2026

Herald Sport

Meirion Evans and Osian Pryce ready for Severn Valley Stages opener

THE CASTROL MEM RALLY TEAM will begin its 2026 British Rally Championship campaign this weekend with its sights firmly set on both the drivers’ and teams’ titles.

The team heads to the Severn Valley Stages on Saturday (Apr 11) with new team-mates Meirion Evans and Osian Pryce lining up in a pair of Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars.

Evans starts the opening round still chasing his first major gravel rally win after coming close on more than one occasion last season. A puncture near the end of the 2025 Malcolm Wilson Rally and a spin on the final stage of the recent Rally North Wales cost him what had looked set to be well-earned victories.

The 30-year-old from Lampeter, alongside co-driver Dale Furniss of Llanfyllin, Powys, tested his Pirelli-shod Toyota in Gorsedd Bran forest, Denbighshire, on Tuesday. The session allowed the team to make a series of subtle set-up changes which Evans believes have improved the car ahead of the new campaign.

Pryce also got his first experience of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 during the same Castrol MEM Rally Team test and quickly settled into the Michelin-shod machine.

The 33-year-old, who was born in Machynlleth, won the Severn Valley Stages in 2024 and is seeded at number one for what will be the 125th rally start of his career. The 2022 British champion will therefore lead the BRC field onto the stages.

This weekend will also see Pryce reunited with co-driver James Morgan, from Llandysul, Ceredigion. The pair have only previously contested one event together — the Cambrian Rally 10 years ago.

With just over 50 stage miles ahead, the Severn Valley Stages promises to be a fast and demanding season opener. The event features a ceremonial start and finish in Llandrindod Wells, with a midday service halt at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, before crews tackle the classic mid-Wales forests of Sarnau, Myherin and Tarenig.

Evans said: “I’m looking forward to this weekend’s Severn Valley Stages, as it’s nice to get the show on the road again. We’re starting the new season aiming for some more strong results and hoping to challenge for rally victories and the BRC title like we did last year.

“We had a good test yesterday and made some very positive steps with the Toyota Yaris. The car worked well on Rally North Wales, but I felt there were some things that could be improved and by exploring a few things during the test I feel that we’ve made some steps in that direction. Hopefully that will help this weekend.

“In fact, as the road was wet in the morning and dry in the afternoon, it was nice to get a mix of conditions which should benefit us not just for this weekend’s Severn Valley Stages but the season ahead.”

Pryce said: “Having now driven the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be aiming for a win on the Severn Valley Stages this weekend.

“There wasn’t much doubt in my mind that I’d gel with the car, yet it was still reassuring to know that everything I’d heard about the Toyota was correct and I felt comfortable in it straight away.

“I’m also happy with being seeded at car number one. At the end of the day, I won the rally two years ago, so it’s our turn to run first on the road and I’m looking forward to it. Having a clean road ahead might even suit me. It is what it is, and we’ll have to wait and see how that plays out.”

Sport

Haverfordwest County AFC Women one win from title glory

Published

2 days ago

April 8, 2026

Herald Sport

Bluebirds can seal the league championship and promotion on Sunday in front of a home crowd at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC Women are on the brink of history as they prepare for a huge home clash this Sunday at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium.

Kick-off is at 2:00pm, and in their very first season together, victory would see the Bluebirds crowned league champions and secure promotion — a remarkable achievement for the team.

Supporters are being urged to turn out in force and help create a carnival atmosphere for what could be a truly historic afternoon at the Bridge Meadow.

Entry is free, with the food hut and bar both open on the day. Young academy girls will be there as mascots and ball retrievers, while blue flags will be available on entry.

Anyone free on Sunday is being encouraged to come along, make some noise, and be part of a special occasion as Haverfordwest County AFC Women aim to make club history.

News

Haverfordwest County AFC faces High Court winding-up threat from HMRC

Published

3 days ago

April 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Chairman says issue has been dealt with, but winding-up notice is still listed ahead of High Court hearing

HAVERFORDWEST County AFC is facing serious questions after an HM Revenue and Customs winding-up petition against the company behind the club remained live on The London Gazette website despite the chairman insisting the matter has already been dealt with.

The petition against Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Ltd was presented on February 23 and is listed to be heard at the High Court in London on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:30am. The public notice states that HMRC is seeking to wind up the company, registered at Bridge Meadow Stadium, Bridge Meadow Lane, Haverfordwest, claiming to be a creditor.

***Haverfordwest’s Chairman and Director: Rob Edwards***

Any person intending to support or oppose the petition must give notice by 4:00pm on April 14. At the time of publication, the notice remained publicly visible and there was nothing on the Gazette entry to show that it had been withdrawn, dismissed or otherwise disposed of.

After being contacted by The Herald, chairman Rob Edwards said the case was “a non-story” and claimed it related to “a VAT offset against PAYE that wasn’t recorded”. He said the issue had been rectified “some time ago”, that the club had no debt to HMRC, and that HMRC had already provided a petition to withdraw to the court.

However, HMRC did not confirm that when approached by The Herald. Instead, a spokesperson gave only a general statement, saying: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money.”

That leaves an obvious gap between the chairman’s account and the public record. If Edwards is right, the matter may already be in the process of being withdrawn. But until the court or Gazette record is updated, the petition remains live in public and continues to list a High Court hearing next week.

Even if the matter is ultimately withdrawn, the fact it progressed to the stage of a published HMRC winding-up petition is likely to raise concern among supporters, sponsors and creditors. A petition of this kind is a serious insolvency step, not a routine administrative query. If it were to proceed and succeed, the company could face compulsory liquidation.

The issue is especially striking because the club has recently spoken publicly about growth, investment and longer-term ambition. In January, Haverfordwest said it was in the latter stages of an exclusivity agreement relating to significant investment from a US-based fund. Earlier statements had also referred to outside backing, ambitions to move towards full-time football, and a wider business vision around the club.

Those statements painted a picture of momentum and expansion. The emergence of a live HMRC petition, whatever the eventual explanation, is therefore bound to prompt scrutiny of the club’s financial management and internal controls.

Questions are also likely to be asked about Rob Edwards’ wider business interests beyond west Wales. Recent coverage has linked him and Morley Sports Management to ventures in the United States, underlining the scale of the broader commercial ambition surrounding Haverfordwest’s rise.

For supporters, sponsors, staff and creditors, the immediate question is whether the matter will be formally withdrawn or whether the public court record will remain unchanged until the hearing date. Until that becomes clear, one of Welsh football’s most talked-about recent success stories is facing a deeply serious test off the pitch.

UPDATE: 14:16 HRS, April 7, 2026:

The club has now published an official statement saying the petition “has been withdrawn by HMRC,” but the petition still appears live on The London Gazette and still lists the April 15 hearing. The club statement says there is “no debt owed to HMRC” and attributes the matter to “an allocation issue around a PAYE/VAT offset at the end of last year.”