Kopek Des Bordes in ‘exceptional form’ with Arkle looming
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 3 Mar 2026
With seven days to go to the Cheltenham Festival, the McCarthy family are dreaming of making more special memories with Kopek Des Bordes, who is said to be in “exceptional form” ahead of his eagerly-awaited Arkle bid.
Charles McCarthy and his sons enjoyed a day to remember when landing the curtain-raising Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago and having dislodged Lulamba at the head of the betting for another of the opening-day highlights, the countdown is well and truly on.
McCarthy told the Press Association: “It was a massive occasion last year and was really something you couldn’t have bought.
“Of course we’re nervous all over again and if he wins we’ll be over the moon, but for us we always just hope he comes home in one piece.
“We have one leg on the plane and myself and the family are very excited about it. In racing you need that little bit of luck and hopefully we have it.
“After we won the Supreme last year, Willie (Mullins) said to us that chasing would be Kopek Des Bordes’ game as he’s a big horse and he is respecting his fences than he did the hurdles.”
Kopek Des Bordes made a spellbinding chasing debut at Navan in November, but further progress has been curtailed by a setback that kept him off the track at Christmas and then an unwillingness to subject the exciting six-year-old to thoroughly testing conditions at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Connections will have to delve into Martin and David Pipe’s playbook as Kopek Des Bordes attempts to replicate the likes of Well Chief (2004) and Western Warhorse (2014) by winning the Arkle on just his second chasing appearance.
Owner Charles McCarthy (far right) and his sons at Cheltenham (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)
However, McCarthy is taking heed of the words from his star performer’s trainer, with Mullins unconcerned about a lack of experience and also delighted with what he has seen of late on the training grounds.
“Willie is not worried about the lack of experience, he’s in exceptional form and Willie has said he has done two very good pieces of work,” added McCarthy.
“Willie put two good horses with him and they gave him a massive lead, but then Kopek Des Bordes has pinged the second-last and last and then passed them as if they were standing. Willie said he jumped the last as if there was £100,000 to be won.
“They are all very pleased with him at Closutton, Paul (Townend, jockey) is also over the moon with him and everything is geared to heading over there on Monday and then racing on Tuesday.
“I was listening to Ruby Walsh on a podcast and he said his Nap of the week was Kopek Des Bordes and he said he would be capable of winning a Champion Hurdle.”
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