Haiti Couleurs wins Irish Grand National

Haiti Couleurs and champion jockey-elect Sean Bowen held off a strong finish from Any Second Now to claim victory in the Irish Grand National.

The 13-2 second favourite came into the race having won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month, then under Ben Jones.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained eight-year-old and Bushmans Pass were the leading pair from the early stages at Fairyhouse before the latter fell back to the pack.

That left Any Second Now (17-2) as the main challenger but, after also finishing second in the race last year, the 13-year-old could not close the gap with Haiti Couleurs winning by three and a quarter lengths.

Favourite Quai De Bourbon (11-2), ridden by Paul Townend, finished third with Dunboyne (22-1) in fourth.

“I honestly can’t believe it,” Welshman Bowen told RTE.

“I couldn’t ride him at Cheltenham and I’m so grateful to Becky [Curtis] for letting me back on him.