KOPEK Des Bordes (4/5f) couldn’t have been more impressive in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, as Willie Mullins’ charge practically sauntered home under Paul Townend to score by 13 lengths.

The short-priced favourite produced a much-improved round of jumping compared to his hurdle debut at the Christmas Festival, and eased into the lead before two out. A loose horse appeared the only danger, and indeed ran across Kopek Des Bordes, who survived without much issue, and had his rivals in trouble soon after.

Cantering towards the final flight, he leapt over with minimum fuss and skipped clear, as stablemate Karniquet (16/1) finished best of the remainder. There were a further nine lengths back to welcome British raider Good And Clever in third.

Paul Townend confirmed it was as easy as it looked, saying: “I felt I was hacking around the whole way. I had to take a pull when the loose horse came upsides.”

The winning trainer, meanwhile, commented: “The horse was very keen and free the whole way, but Paul just let him have his head going down to his hurdles. He jumped way better than Christmas - we did a lot of schooling with him since the last day.

“When he looked to be in a lovely position then the loose horse set him mad. Paul had to yank him back, but he still put in a huge jump in at the second last. I think he’ll have no trouble jumping fences after that.

"It was a tremendous performance. We thought he was good enough to win a bumper and win his hurdles, but you never know if a horse is this good. Very few horses show you that they're Grade 1 material at home. They don’t show me anyway, I don’t ask them that many questions and let them show it on the racecourse."

Bookmakers shortened Kopek Des Bordes to 6/4 favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, having previously been a 7/1 shot. The earlier favourite, stablemate Salvator Mundi is now 4/1.

Kopek Des Bordes was also an appropriate winner considering the sponsors, having been bought by Mullins and Harold Kirk at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale for €130,000. Owned by Charlie McCarthy’s Monabeg Investments, the unbeaten bay previously landed the valuable Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper.