Kopek Des Bordes to head straight to Cheltenham, skipping DRF

January 29, 2026

Kopek Des Bordes will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after he wasn’t declared for the Irish Arkle.

The six-year-old suffered a minor setback before Christmas when originally due to run in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown, undergoing a small procedure to remove a floating chip in his knee.

In recent weeks the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero was uneasy at the best of times in the Irish Arkle market with Paddy Power pushing him out to as big as 5/2 following the first forfeit stage despite connections insisting he was on track for the Dublin Racing Festival.

Last week, Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie, reported Kopek Des Bordes was back in full training and the team at Closutton were very happy with his progress.

He worked at the Curragh and was doing everything that was asked of him but in a race against time to get the son of No Risk It All match fit, the champion trainer didn’t feel he was ready for the challenge.

Part-owner Charlie McCarthy told the Press Association: “He’s working well and everything is positive but Willie just isn’t happy to take on these horses at the moment. He just needs a little more time and that’s what he doesn’t have before Saturday.

“We’re going straight to Cheltenham. I never challenge Willie and I respect his calls. I’m broken hearted he won’t run but we have to put the horse first. The Arkle is what we’re gunning for.”

The world at his feet 🌏

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes dazzles on his eagerly-anticipated chase debut @NavanRacecourse.

He’s 7/4 fav for the Akle on the back of this.@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/sLa2KViUuY

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 17, 2025

Arkle trends against Kopek Des Bordes, pushed out to 5/1

If Kopek Des Bordes does make it to Cheltenham off the back of one chase run, the trends will be firmly against him.

Since 2010 only five novices have contested the Arkle after doing so, most were sent off at big prices.

The two across history that have done so – Western Warhorse (33/1, 2013) and Well Chief (9/1, 2004) both ran over hurdles twice before Christmas that season.

Kopek Des Bordes’ chase debut at Navan was nothing short of electric, storming home by 13 lengths and following that success he was made the 7/4 favourite for the Arkle.

Less than a year ago his rise as one of National Hunt racing’s biggest talents was complete with Cheltenham glory in the Supreme after landing the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Mullins now relies on Kargese to help him become the first trainer in history to win six consecutive Irish Arkles but Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio will be a very tough nut to crack.