Fermoy's McCarthy family dream of more Cheltenham glory with Kopek Des Bordes

Kopek Des Bordes is back at Cheltenham for the Arkle a year after his success in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. "It'll take a fair horse to beat him," trainer Willie Mullins recently told owner Charlie McCarthy

CJ McCarthy on Kopek Des Bordes winning the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2025: "To be from Cork and to win a race named after a Cork man, to win it, there were a lot of emotions." Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

A YEAR on from a “very emotional” success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the enthusiastic owners of Kopek Des Bordes have high hopes their pride and joy can become a dual Cheltenham Festival winner by landing the spoils in the Arkle Novices’ Chase on Tuesday.

For Fermoy's McCarthy family, winning last year’s Festival curtain-raiser was special for number of reasons, not least the fact the race was run in memory of Michael O’Sullivan, a fellow Corkonian who had tragically died a month earlier as a result of injuries sustained from a fall at Thurles.

Charlie McCarthy was fighting his own health battle in the run-up to last year’s Festival, undergoing surgery to remove a kidney due to cancer after seeing Kopek Des Bordes serve notice of his immense talent with a Grade One success at the Dublin Racing Festival. Happily, Charlie got the all-clear to make the journey to Cheltenham where Kopek Des Bordes delivered in tremendous style.

A year on, after an injury-disrupted season, Kopek Des Bordes is back at Cheltenham for the Arkle while his owner happily reports himself to be in fine fettle.

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“Thanks be to God, I've been given a clean bill of health,” Charlie says. “I was back in January and my surgeon told me he doesn't want to see me until May.” 

Reflecting on last year’s fraught Cheltenham build-up, Charlie says: “First of all, I was told I couldn't go. Then Kevin O'Connor, who is a top-class surgeon said to me about 10 days before: ‘I'll do keyhole surgery.’ That he did and there I was at Cheltenham.

“It all came together and it was very emotional. I remember watching it as he came to the line, I said: ‘Do I actually have a winner at Cheltenham?' I was pinching myself, I couldn't believe it and the lads were jumping on top of me and rubbing my head.” 

The lads are Charlie’s four sons: CJ, David, James, and Andrew. CJ recalls: “Going back to the DRF, we knew ourselves that he had cancer but no-one else knew and then Dad told people and he then had a kidney removed. Even as young kids, we always knew he wanted to have a winner at Cheltenham so going over and having a live chance in the Supreme and seeing him go and win it, it was very emotional. And we mustn't forget poor Michael O'Sullivan.” 

“And we from Fermoy and he from Mallow and Eugene (Michael’s uncle) and Michael's brother (Alan) presenting the prize to us,” Charlie interjects.

“That to me was the icing on the cake,” CJ replies. “To be from Cork and to win a race named after a Cork man, to win it, there were a lot of emotions. It was the stuff of dreams to be honest about it. I keep thinking to myself: Will it ever be topped? Because it was such a magical day.” 

The whole experience of owning a horse who has captured the public imagination has been a delight, Charlie says.

“It's the dream of a lifetime to have a horse like this. The joy, the happiness he's brought the whole family is incredible. If he wins (the Arkle), we'll be over the moon, we'll celebrate like we never did before. We're there with a realistic chance and we're looking forward to it. It's a feeling I can't describe when you win. To get into that parade ring, it's like the Coliseum.” 

“We'd love to have that feeling again but there's obviously no guarantee,” CJ adds. "The horse has done so much for our family, he's given us some great days so far, please God he'll put on a show for us.” 

Charlie McCarthy after Kopek Des Bordes won the Pat Sheils Memorial Irish EBF Beginners Steeplechase. Pic: Healy Racing Photo.

However, not everyone in the McCarthy family is besotted with Kopek Des Bordes. At least not all the time!

“I've eight grandchildren, four girls and four boys and I must tell you a very interesting story,” Charlie explained. “Every Sunday we go out for lunch with the grandchildren and one day we were in Fota. Zara, who is seven now, is the oldest of them and I said to her: ‘Grandma and Grandad love you very much’.

“She thought about it for a second and then she said: ‘Do you love me more than Kopek?’ I said: ‘Zara, of course we do.’ “I then said to CJ: ‘Did you hear this?’ And he told me that every night he replays the race and she says: ‘Dad, not that race again!’” 

Defending the multiple viewings, CJ says: “After he won the Supreme, for about six months every single night I watched it over and over again because this horse is special.” 

He’ll have to be special to get the better of Lulamba and win an Arkle on just his second start over fences. But it has been done. Well Chief did it in 2004 while Western Warhorse somehow pulled it off a decade later when denying favourite Champagne Fever. And, on the back of positive schooling sessions at Punchestown and Fairyhouse, the vibes from Willie Mullins camp have become increasingly positive in recent weeks.

That wasn’t always the case but, while the McCarthys were understandably disappointed by the fact Kopek Des Bordes was unable to run at Leopardstown at Christmas or at the Dublin Racing Festival, there may be a silver lining to his absence since his impressive beginners’ chase win at Navan in November.

“Obviously his setback wasn't ideal,” CJ admits. “He missed Christmas, he missed the DRF but he goes there fresh and looking at the ground at Leopardstown last month it can take a lot out of a horse.

“He's had his two schooling sessions at Punchestown and Fairyhouse and I think we're in a very good place and you couldn't have a better guy on his back than Paul Townend, he's absolutely class.

“Winning would be an unbelievable training performance but there's no better man to get a horse ready than Willie Mullins. We go there with a live chance and that's all we can ask for really.” 

One notion floated in recent weeks was that, with the Champion Hurdle looking a weak renewal, Kopek Des Bordes might revert to the smaller obstacles. Was it ever under serious consideration?

“No,” Charlie says emphatically. “Willie never discussed it with us. He said when he won the Supreme that chasing was his game and he does respect the fences better than the hurdles.” 

Whatever happens on Tuesday, the McCarthys know they own a horse who has the quality to dine at the top table for some time to come.

“I've had horses all my life,” Charlie says. “I have three now with Willie at the moment, Kopek, Chosen Witness, and a four-year-old in pre-training who is by Masked Marvel. He's a grey horse and I’ve never had a grey horse in my life but Kopek is a once in a lifetime horse. And he's only a six-year-old. Injury-free, he has a very big career ahead of him.

“Willie rang me and told me he was over the moon with the work he did at Fairyhouse. I said: ‘Will he be good and fit in Cheltenham?’ He said: ‘He will, it'll take a fair horse to beat him.’”