Monday racing: Kopek Des Bordes ready for chasing debut

Any day a brilliant hurdler goes chasing is an exciting one, so Kopek Des Bordes will be the focus of much attention when he lines up for the Pat Sheils Memorial Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Navan on Monday.

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old, who is owned by Charles McCarthy and his sons, had also struck at Grade One level at the Dublin Racing Festival. And while he ended his year with a shock reverse at Punchestown, he is already ante-post favourite for the Arkle back at Cheltenham in the spring.

Mullins, speaking after watching another Dublin Racing Festival-winning novice hurdler in the shape of Final Demand make a sparkling first foray over fences at Navan, said: “He’s in good shape.

“He schools well, but he won’t be as natural as that guy (Final Demand) now because that guy is just a natural jumper.

“He’s a very brave jumper, Kopek Des Bordes.”

McCarthy admitted to being a “little nervous”, but is rightly proud to be associated with such a horse.

“He’s been a revelation for me and the boys and the joy he has given us, money couldn’t buy it,” he said.

“I’ve always owned a number of horses throughout my life, but I’ve been so lucky to come across this guy that I thank God every time I wake up. He’s frightening and he would frighten anyone, he just has an engine in him that is hard to believe.

“The public seem to love him and that might be because of myself and the boys, but we love the joy he seems to bring to people.”