Haiti Couleurs made all the running to win the William Hill Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday and set up a potential tilt at the Gold Cup in the process.

Rebecca Curtis’ pride and joy has graduated out of handicaps, winning the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last season which he followed up with a win in the Irish National.

This season he began with a victory over hurdles but then disappointed in the Betfair Chase which put plans on the back burner, however, he bounced back in style to win the Welsh National.

Sean Bowen set out to make it a real test in the very soft ground but his usual sure-footed jumping was not as slick as in the past, meaning he was getting into the bottom of his fences.

L’Homme Presse and Leave Of Absence both closed up approaching the third last but that was when Haiti Couleurs’ stamina kicked in and he displayed a nice turn of foot in the ground to go and win by seven lengths.

Curtis said: “There were lots of expectations today and he’s gone and shown he must have some sort of chance in the Gold Cup. L’Homme Presse is a really good yardstick and although I’m not saying he’s gone and beaten a Gold Cup field, he’s done really well.

“I was really nervous and I’m just glad it is out the way. He likes to be ridden positively and we weren’t going to change that and just keep it simple.

“I was confident he was more than a handicapper and it’s not like he’s been beaten in a handicap and you know where their mark is. He’s practically unbeaten in handicaps and we still don’t probably know where his ceiling is.

“He’ll enjoy the Gold Cup trip and he loves going up and down hills and undulating tracks. It was Sean in fact who said how much he loves going fast down hill and he has great balance.”

For champion jockey Sean Bowen he also now can look forward to heading to Prestbury Park with a flagship mount as he still searches for an elusive first strike at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting.

Bowen said: “He was a bit cold in front on his own and he’s never had to make the running right from the start. He was careful at a few early on and warmed up nicely into it and then actually showed a turn of foot when they came to him and I was surprised how well he quickened.

“He’s just a good horse and he makes it easy for you. He’s going to be a horse that three-miles-two around Cheltenham and then up the hill will really suit him. Whether he is good enough or not I don’t know but everything will suit him on the day.

“He loves Cheltenham which is a big asset to any Gold Cup horse and he will stay all day and jump and he just does things like a good horse. Whether he’s good enough after the back of the last we don’t know but he’ll definitely be there pitching turning in.”

He added: “You want to be riding in Gold Cups and I have only ridden in one and finished fourth, so to finish a few places higher would be nice.”

Lulamba proves a convincing winner

Lulamba cemented his position at the head of the betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham when ultimately running out a convincing winner against his elders in the William Hill Game Spirit Chase.

Nicky Henderson was keen to get more experience into his five-year-old having had just the two runs over fences to date and while one of those came in Grade 1 novice company, it looks a shrewd decision now.

Early on Lulamba took time to warm to his task and was jumping big, causing him to lose his position.

By halfway Nico de Boinville had got him on to the heels of the leaders Saint Segal and Master Chewy, but he was being pushed along turning in.

At the top of the straight, though, the 4/11 favourite clicked into overdrive and put in some of his best leaps.

De Boinville did not have to get too serious with him as he beat Saint Segal by six and a half lengths.

Henderson said: “The reason he was here was because he needed the practice as he got none at Exeter and then was great at Sandown, but when you are jumping round with those older horses here you are jumping half a gear faster and that is what he will have to do at Cheltenham.

“He will go further without a shadow of a doubt and I don’t think that is his ground even though I was surprised by how it was. Nico and I walked round this morning and we were perfectly happy to run, but he must be better on good ground and I do think he will jump better on good ground.

“He’s a horse who loves life and despite the ground I think he has really enjoyed himself and I liked the way he quickened up from the second last, the gears work.

“You can see what we were trying to do, he didn’t need the race but he needed the experience and it is against those older horses who can go a proper good gallop when you learn – they teach you a bit and you have to jump that little stride quicker.

“It can take him time to warm up and he was the same at Sandown and it was once he got down into the back straight there that he latched on.

“He’s got lots of scope and there is plenty of time for a little bit of practice. His jumping has a little bit of finessing to come, but that will be there I hope, come the second Tuesday in March.”

It was De Boinville’s only ride of the day and despite the early start to accompany the Seven Barrows handler walking the course, he can return home happy after Lulamba ticked all the boxes in this educational outing the jockey has won three times in the past aboard the imperious Altior.

De Boinville said: “He is a novice in open company there against seasoned handicappers and just took a bit of time to learn on the job.

“Once we turned in and he got a bit of light, away he went, and once I got up on that inside rail he came alive.

“It was very much about education today and we were very keen to get this run into him because those fences at Cheltenham come up quick. We were umming and ahhing whether to run but he’s gone and done the job.

“He’s got a big engine and I don’t want to compare him to any others but I was very happy.”