‘He was jumping like a stag, gaining lengths at every fence’ – Arkle favourite on course to kick off new career at Navan
The McCarthy family are gearing up for another rollercoaster ride this season, with their Arkle favourite Kopek Des Bordes ready to be unleashed over fences and set to make his eagerly awaited chasing debut at Navan this weekend.
The six-year-old, who was sent off odds-on when landing the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, put up one of the most impressive novice-hurdling displays in recent memory when storming 13 lengths clear on the bridle at the Dublin Racing Festival in Grade 1 company. That made him one of the Irish bankers at Cheltenham and he lived up to that billing when beating William Munny by a length and three-quarters in the opening race of the festival.
He lost his unbeaten record with a below-par fourth at Punchestown, but remains one of the most exciting prospects to go novice chasing in recent seasons and could reappear in the 2m1f Pat Sheils Memorial Beginners Chase at Navan on Saturday, a race Willie Mullins has won with top-class performers Facile Vega and Arkle winner Footpad.
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Published on 11 November 2025inIreland
Last updated 19:38, 11 November 2025
