Kopec Des Bordes, a strong contender for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, will miss the Christmas race at Leopardstown due to a minor issue during his training. The five-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, impressed last season by winning the Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Festival and started brilliantly over fences in Navan last month.
Owner Charlie McCarthy shared with the Press Association that although he has a floating chip in his knee, which was removed by Willie, he now needs an additional week for recovery. McCarthy emphasized that while the horse is in excellent health and condition, his preparation wasn’t quite where Willie Mullins wanted it to be for the Christmas event, describing the setback as minor and nothing serious.
Kopec Des Bordes is still expected to compete at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival in early February. McCarthy also mentioned the possibility of a run at Naas in January to help the horse gain more experience, assuring fans that the team is happy with progress and that the runner will definitely take part in the Dublin Racing Festival, with decisions about other races to be made by Willie Mullins.
McCarthy expressed enthusiasm for the horse’s condition, reassuring fans that there are no significant concerns and that the horse just needs a little more time to be fully prepared.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for horse racing enthusiasts because Kopec Des Bordes is a rising star with tremendous potential, and his health and readiness impact the excitement around upcoming major races. How well he recovers and performs could shape the competitive landscape of the season and highlight the skill involved in managing elite racehorses.
