1 month ago
27
THERE were ‘floods of tears’ after Willie Mullins’ superstar new horse was demolished in the Cheltenham betting following arguably the most devastating win this season.
Kopek Des Bordes was immediately made 6-4 fav from 7-1 for the Festival-opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after hacking up in the Grade 1 Irish Novice Hurdle.
https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1886049008642072578Jumping well throughout having been sent off 4-5 under Paul Townend, there were a few gasps as Kopek Des Bordes looked to get impeded by loose horse Eastern Legend turning for home.
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But he had the field strung out by this point and that colossal engine he has kicked into overdrive approaching the last.
Kopek Des Bordes left everything trailing in his wake to score by 13 lengths from Karniquet.
The third horse, Brit trainer Warren Greatrex’s 16-1 Good And Clever, was a further nine lengths behind him.
The huge question now is whether Mullins keeps Kopek Des Bordes at 2m or steps him up in trip for the 2m5f Turners Novices’ Hurdle, for which he is as short as 2-1.
In truth it looks like he will have no problem winning which ever one his boss thinks he should go for.
Although his pedigree suggests he may be even better suited by moving up to the middle distance race.
https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1886054550768849319That would make for a decent showdown with Dan Skelton’s The New Lion, the runaway Challow Hurdle winner recently purchased by JP McManus.
As it stands, though, Mullins’ other top novice Salvator Mundi will be up against it vs his jaw-dropping stablemate.
There were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure afterwards.
Charlie McCarthy, owner of Kopek Des Bordes, said: “When you see your sons cry… that is something you can’t buy.
“That is a feeling I will take to my grave with me.
“It’s very good for my boys and myself – the horse is the talk of the town!
“All of us were in floods of tears after, but I didn’t want people to see me crying in an interview on TV!”
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