Bordes claims Grade 1 in facile fashion

Kopek Des Bordes produced a stunning performance when winning the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on the bridle.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding maintained his unbeaten record in facile fashion in the Grade 1 contest with an effortless 13-length success.

Paul Townend had his hands full throughout in the two-miler as the No Risk At All gelding raced keenly.

He pulled his way to the front after the third last and wasn’t helped by a loose horse going to the penultimate flight.

It made no difference however as the 4/5 shot soon eased clear and Townend didn’t have to move on his mount in the closing stages as he dismissed his rivals.

Mullins said:- “The horse was very keen and free the whole way, but Paul just let him have his head going down to his hurdles and 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.

“This horse didn’t walk like you would like one to walk at the sales, but we took a chance on him with his page.

“I don’t see any need to go up in trip because he’s going to need a very fast pace in his races.”

Townend told RTE:- “I wound him up to jump early and it lit him up a bit but I thought we were hacking around there.

“When the loose horse came to me down by the last ditch he ran away with me again and he was brave to go down and jump the second last and not follow him because he’s very inexperienced. That showed here at Christmas but he’s come on leaps and bounds from that.

“I never had to dip him at all. As I say I thought we were hacking and he ran away with me leaving the back straight, not too many do that.”

Betfair reacted by making the winner 6/4 favourite (from 6/1) for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Stablemate Salvator Mundi is now 4/1 having been 3/1 favourite.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)