• Sean Bowen secured glory in the Irish Grand National with Haiti Couleurs 
  • Bowen was eager to prevail after he didn’t win at Cheltenham and Aintree 

By DOMINIC KING

Sean Bowen showed why he will be crowned champion jockey with a brilliant ride to secure the huge prize he has craved.

No British jockey has ridden with the consistency and determination of Bowen during the last six months, as proven by a tally of 172 victories, but the major Festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree passed by without him tasting success.

It had been Bowen’s ambition to change that anomaly before the campaign ends on Saturday and how he did here at Fairyhouse, as he conjured an impeccable round of jumping to lead from the start on 13-2 shot Haiti Couleurs — trained in Pembrokeshire by Rebecca Curtis — in the Irish Grand National.

Sean Bowen was delighted after he triumphed in the Irish Grand National with Haiti Couleurs

Sean Bowen was delighted after he triumphed in the Irish Grand National with Haiti Couleurs

After being unable to secure success at Cheltenham and Aintree, Bowen was eager to prevail

After being unable to secure success at Cheltenham and Aintree, Bowen was eager to prevail 

Trainer Rebecca Curtis admitted that she was 'speechless' following the victory

Trainer Rebecca Curtis admitted that she was ‘speechless’ following the victory

‘He just jumped amazing,’ said Bowen — and he was not embellishing what Haiti Couleurs had done, as the gelding skipped around the three-and-a-half miles in rain-sodden ground with an exuberance that drew gasps from a bumper crowd. 

He added: ‘I can’t quite believe it. I was a bit worried at the start because he got a bit stirred up. But once he jumped off, he got into a rhythm and he moved so well that, turning for home, I wondered if we had to go do another circuit!’

For Curtis, who pocketed a first prize of €270,000 (£232,000), the success was no less huge. In recent years, she has struggled for numbers in her stable. ‘This is massive for my yard,’ she said. ‘I’m a bit speechless.’

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Sean Bowen demonstrates why he will be crowned champion jockey as he wins Irish Grand National with Haiti Couleurs

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