Kopek Des Bordes to miss DRF and head straight to Cheltenham

"I'm broken hearted he won't run on Saturday like everyone else but we have to put the horse first," owner Charlie McCarhy said

RULED OUT: Kopek Des Bordes was due to clash with Gordon Elliott's Romeo Coolio at Leopardstown this weekend but will now miss that engagement. Picture: Adam Davy/PA 

Kopek Des Bordes will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after Willie Mullins decided against a run in Saturday's Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner was due to clash with Gordon Elliott's Romeo Coolio in what would have been one of the highlights of the day one action at Leopardstown, especially after Kopek Des Bordes missed an intended outing over the Christmas period with a small setback.

However, his name was missing from the small field of three declared on Thursday morning, with the Closutton team switching their focus to Prestbury Park in March.

Owner Charles McCarthy said: "Willie rang me this morning and said he won't run. He's working well and everything is positive but he's just not happy to take on these horses at the moment. He just needs a little more time and that's what he doesn't have before Saturday.

"I asked him what was plan B and he said we're going straight to Cheltenham. I never challenge Willie and I respect his calls, I'd rather have a horse than not a horse.

"I'm broken hearted he won't run on Saturday like everyone else but we have to put the horse first."

Kopek Des Bordes has been eased to 4-1 with some bookmakers for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, McCarthy confirmed that would be the most likely destination for his popular six-year-old where he could face a mouthwatering clash with Nicky Henderson's current race favourite Lulamba.

He added: "We're aiming for the Arkle and at the moment that's where we are thinking. Willie has his eyes firmly set on Cheltenham and didn't want to jeopardise the horse this weekend, so the Arkle is what we're gunning for."

Meanwhile, Haiti Couleurs will head to the Denman Chase at Newbury next weekend after his name did not appear among the declarations for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on Saturday.

Victorious on his last trip across the Irish Sea in the Irish Grand National, he has since added the Welsh version to his growing record.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis had been keen to take on the best of the home team at Leopardstown, but a culmination of factors led to a change of heart.

Curtis said: "It was a tough decision, but it just turned out there were too many negatives to taking him over.

"Firstly he'd come off a few days of antibiotics at the beginning of the week, a very small sinus issue which was nothing really, that wasn't our main issue.

"They cancelled our local ferry from the nearest port at Fishbourne which would have meant a big hike up to Holyhead and then across to Dublin.

"Thirdly there was the uncertainty about the ground, they are due more rain again having already been waterlogged once this week so the likelihood is heavy ground, whether it will be that we don't know.

"When the Gold Cup is his main aim we just thought everything wasn't adding up for a good prep run for that, so we'll definitely go to the Denman at Newbury next Saturday with him now."

She added: "He's all well, there are no problems but you need everything aligned to be at your best at Cheltenham and we didn't think that was happening, as we were using it as a prep we didn't think it was ideal only six weeks out from Cheltenham."

A total of 13 have been declared with Willie Mullins running eight, including Galopin Des Champs.

Paul Townend maintains his partnership with the three-time winner, while Mark Walsh has chosen Fact To File over last season's Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin, who will be ridden by Keith Donoghue.

Jack Kennedy will ride Mullins' 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus, leaving Haiti Couleurs' regular jockey Sean Bowen to partner Gordon Elliott's Firefox.

Gaelic Warrior, Spindleberry, Champ Kiely, Grangeclare West and Lecky Watson also run for champion trainer Mullins.

Noel Meade's Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monty's Star complete the field.