Kopek Des Bordes dazzles on Navan chasing bow

Kopek Des Bordes lived up to the considerable expectation around his debut over fences when taking the Pat Sheils Memorial Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Navan.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was twice a Grade One winner last season, taking novice hurdles at Leopardstown and Cheltenham before a fourth-placed run in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

He was the 2-9 favourite under Paul Townend to get his chasing career off to a winning start, and those odds looked more and more reasonable as he travelled round Navan.

Jumping neatly and making matters look very simple throughout, the gelding strolled to a five-length victory to remain the 5-2 joint-favourite with Coral for the Arkle, shortening from the same price to 7-4 for the race with Paddy Power.