Kopek Des Bordes did all that was asked of him to land the Michael O’Sullivan
Novices’ Hurdle at
.
Sporting a hood for the first time, Willie Mullins’ gelding was fighting to retain his unbeaten record and started as the 4-6 favourite under Paul Townend for the opening race of the 2025 Festival.
He neatly delivered, tracking long-time leader Workahead and then kicking clear up the hill to hold off a challenge from William Munny, despite a jumping error at the last hurdle.
The length and three-quarters runner-up ran a huge race in defeat, and so nearly carried the colours famously sported by the late Michael O’Sullivan when the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale won the corresponding event in 2023.