Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

OF course it had to be a Co Cork special in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, renamed in honour of one of its finest sons.

An emotional Paul Townend pointed to the Rebel County armband sported by all riders in the race as he crossed the line on Kopek Des Bordes, who lived up to all the hype and got the 2025 Cheltenham Festival off to a flying start for Willie Mullins, the McCarthy family from Fermoy and for favourite backers.

Making just the fourth start of his career as a five-year-old, many had raised concerns that the unbeaten star could boil over in the Cheltenham cauldron. No such fears materialised, however, when the chips were down in a first-time hood.

Kopek Des Bordes oozed class throughout under the champion jockey and, once the front-running Workahead dropped away, he could have been called the likeliest winner from some way out.

William Munny, sporting the Barry Connell colours carried by Michael O’Sullivan on Marine Nationale in this race two years ago, enhanced his reputation in defeat but couldn’t crack the length-and-three-quarters deficit in second. Grade 1 winner Romeo Coolio, followed home by Karniquet and Salvator Mundi, made it an Irish one-two-three-four-five in a race where the visitors supplied 10 of the 11 runners.

“Michael was a big part of our team and lived locally to me, a Cork man as well - he is in everyone’s thoughts every day,” said the champion jockey.

“We can just count ourselves very lucky that we did know him for the short time that we did. We’re very lucky to have known such an incredible young man.”

Top drawer

On the fabulous performance from Kopek Des Bordes, Townend added: “I think he can go right to the top because he has so little racing done. Every day is school day with him and he is growing up all the time. He’s just a very, very good horse and isn’t the finished article yet. It was a big performance. He covers a lot of ground, has huge natural ability.”

It clearly meant a lot to Mullins to win the race honouring Michael O’Sullivan.

“He looks to be some sort of a horse; the team of horses I had there, any year I’d say they’d be good enough to try and go close in that race, and they were spread out like Brown’s cows behind the first two,” said the meeting’s most successful trainer.

“I think a faster pace suits his jumping better. He is like a chaser, but should he do that or stay over hurdles? I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll probably have a go over fences at the end of the season and see what he’s like, and if Paul is happy to go chasing with him.

“Very few horses finish with anything going up that hill – you don’t need to pull them up, they pull themselves up.”

Barry Connell, trainer of William Munny (second)

“I would say that is one of the best novice hurdles we have had run around Cheltenham in a long time. I think the first two were miles clear of the rest so we were delighted. We will probably now go to Punchestown.

“We only have a length and three quarters to find with the winner, but I would say that the winner is a bit special. We’ll either come back here for the Arkle next season or the Champion Hurdle next year, but I would say next season he is more likely to go over fences.”

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Romeo Coolio (third)

“I thought he ran a great race. From the last, he galloped all the way to the line and I’m delighted with him. Jack [Kennedy] said it was just riding a bit firm and it was getting as good as you would want it. I’d say he’ll step up in trip and go over two and a half miles at Aintree.”