Kopek Des Bordes tightens for Irish Arkle after uneasy stretch

January 22, 2026

Kopek Des Bordes has seen his price tighten in the Irish Arkle market following an uneasy stretch.

After opening up at 4/7 with Paddy Power upon the entry stage, the Willie Mullins star was relatively easy to back from the end of last week and touched as big as 2/1 on Wednesday.

He is now 11/10 with the same firm as of Thursday morning, just nine days away from the race on the opening day of Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival.

The six-year-old suffered a ‘minor setback’ ahead of an intended assignment in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Christmas, undergoing a small procedure to remove a floating chip in his knee.

Patrick Mullins revealed on Tuesday that Kopek Des Bordes is back in full training and the team at Closutton are very happy with his progress, hopeful he can return in the Grade 1 showpiece.

Part-owner Charlie McCarthy also added: “Patrick said he rode him at the Curragh and he gave him a very good feeling. He’s doing everything that is asked of him and should make the Dublin Racing Festival.”

The son of No Risk It All produced one of the most electric chase debuts in recent history when storming home by 13 lengths at Navan in November and he’s the clear second-favourite at 3/1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Less than ten months ago he completed his rise to one of National Hunt racing’s most exciting talents with success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, his second top-level title after landing the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle.

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

Irish Arkle field may cut up with Kopek Des Bordes back on track

Gordon Elliott’s two-time Grade 1 winner over fences Romeo Coolio was strongly supported into favouritism for the Irish Arkle with plenty of uncertainty surrounding Kopek Des Bordes – but is now out to 9/4 from 6/4.

Romeo Coolio is also entered in the 2m5f Ladbrokes Novice Chase with a potential Final Demand clash on the horizon and Elliott explained: “We’ll be watching the opposition to see what happens between now and then.”

Kopek Des Bordes’ stablemate Kargese remains prominent in the market and could bid to follow up on her first victory over fences at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

She was soundly beaten on reappearance at Cork in December when looking in dire need of the run but left that effort well behind her in good style, looking every inch the County Hurdle winner and Punchestown Champion Hurdle third that impressed last season.

Connections of Irish Panther, narrow runner-up to Romeo Coolio at Christmas, mentioned they would have no problem going straight to Cheltenham with the nine-year-old revelation but if he was too fresh then Leopardstown would warrant consideration.