Kopek Des Bordes: Profile, Record, Age & Best Races

Kopek Des Bordes romped to victory at the Dublin Racing Festival and is now being billed as the star of the show for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Willie Mullins inmate looked a possible superstar in the making at Leopardstown and is still very much learning his trade with lots of scope for improvement.

Name: Kopek Des Bordes

Age: 5

Weight: 11st 12lb

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Winnings: £132,141

Cheltenham Festival wins: 0

Kopek Des Bordes race stats

Runs	1st	2nd	3rd
3	3	0	0

Kopek Des Bordes Age

Kopek Des Bordes is a five-year-old gelding by No Risk At All out of the mare Miss Berry. He is a half-brother to six jumps winners - including Grade 1 chaser Utopie Des Bordes.

Kopek Des Bordes Weight

On his last start, Kopek Des Bordes carried 11st 12lb in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. He will carry 5lb less in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

Kopek Des Bordes Record

Kopek Des Bordes has just three career runs behind him as he prepares for his first visit to Cheltenham.

He won a bumper at Fairyhouse in March 2024 by 13 lengths and was not spotted for 270 days until his hurdles bow at Leopardstown (2m, yielding) on St Stephen's Day.

His jumping was anything but fluent under Patrick Mullins, but he still managed to beat stablemate Kawaboomga into second spot, form advertised by that rival's next-time-out defeat of subsequent Listed scorer William Munny at Fairyhouse in January.

Kopek Des Bordes, meanwhile, headed for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, where his jumping was much-improved, though he still raced quite keenly under Paul Townend.

It didn't stop him from powering 13 lengths clear of the field in a real statement of intent for his first win in top level company.

Kopek Des Bordes Next Race

After that superb success at the DRF, all eyes are now fixed on the opening race at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival - the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday 11th March.

Kopek Des Bordes is the current favourite to extend his perfect record with victory in the Cotswolds curtain-raiser.

Kopek Des Bordes Owner and Cost

Kopek Des Bordes runs in the colours of Monabeg Investments Limited. They've had a number of runners with Mullins, including three-time winner Chosen Witness, but this latest recruit has raised their profile to new levels.

Charles McCarthy, who hails from the north Cork town of Fermoy, owns the horse along with his four sons under the name of Monabeg Investments Limited.

"When you see your sons cry, your grown sons cry, that is something you can't buy. That is a feeling I'll take to my grave with me," McCarthy told Racing TV after watching his horse score at the DRF.

"It's unreal, it's unbelievable that I have a horse that has a very realistic chance of winning in Cheltenham."

Kopek Des Bordes was bought for €130,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Sales in June 2023.

Kopek Des Bordes Trainer

Willie Mullins trains Kopek Des Bordes, as the Irishman continues to rewrite the pages of National Hunt history with his extraordinary achievements.

Mullins has won an incredible 103 races at the Cheltenham Festival, making him the most successful trainer of all time at the Cotswolds extravaganza.

Amongst his haul are five Champion Hurdles, four Gold Cups, two Queen Mother Champion Chases and a pair of Stayers' Hurdles.

In 2024, he became the first Irish-based handler since Vincent O'Brien 70 years previously to be crowned champion jumps trainer in Britain.

Mullins has trained seven winners of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival already.

Kopek Des Bordes Official Rating

Kopek Des Bordes has been awarded an official rating of 157 after his two hurdles wins in Ireland, making him one of the highest-rated contenders to head for the Supreme in recent years.

Kopek Des Bordes Prize Money

Kopek Des Bordes has quickly won £132,141 for his connections in prize money, with his top payout so far being the €90,000 for winning the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle.

Kopek Des Bordes News

Mullins is no stranger to having a rising star on his hands. Even so, the legendary trainer was blown away by the performance Kopek Des Bordes delivered on just his second start over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival and he says he wasn't the only one.

"It blew my mind, especially against a field of top-class horses," said the Closutton chief.

"Ted Walsh rang me the following morning and said he hadn't seen a performance like that since Golden Cygnet, which is something huge for someone like Ted to say.

"It's probably the first time he's rung to say anything like that. Ted has a razor-sharp memory. For him to come out and say something like that was a huge statement, I think."