Willie Mullins' Kargese foils Kopek and Lulamba in Arkle surprise

A mistake at the last may have cost the Cork-owned Kopek des Bordes the victory.

Kargese, ridden by Danny Mullins and trained by Willie Mullins, upset the fancied Lulamba and Kopek des Bordes to win the Arkle. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Jumping won the day in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase as Kargese, aided by a fine front-running ride from Danny Mullins, got the better of stablemate Kopek Des Bordes and 11-10 favourite Lulamba to get Willie Mullins off the mark at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Having over-jumped the first, a mistake at the second put Kopek Des Bordes on the backfoot on just his second start over fences but last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero had worked his way back into the contest on the approach to second last where Lulamba made a costly blunder.

On the run to the last, Kargese was still finding for pressure but Kopek Des Bordes looked to be getting the better of the argument. However, while both horses jumped the last well, Kopek Des Bordes pecked on landing, allowing 7-1 shot Kargese to establish a decisive advantage and she galloped all the way to the line to win by two and a quarter lengths with Lulamba back in third.

Mullins felt that Kargese, who came here on the back of a fine run in defeat when just touched off by Romeo Coolio in the Irish Arkle, had benefitted from having more experience over fences than her stablemate.

“Kargese jumped superbly and had far more experience than Kopek which has stood to her at the finish,” Mullins said.

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“We were happy Lulamba was up with Kargese and my worry was that Kopek might get in front with Kargese and the two of them might run the powder out of each other.” Paying tribute to the winning jockey, the winning trainer said: “We all need Cheltenham winners and it's great for Danny and it's fabulous to get off the mark for the week. I thought Danny gave her a tremendous ride and he used all the attributes that she has — when he wanted a jump at the last, he got it.”

He was equally effusive about Kargese.

“She's tough and she gives herself a hard race, even over hurdles as a juvenile and everything since. We couldn't believe how well she finished off her season as a juvenile. She's a really tough nut.” 

Reflecting on his fourth Festival triumph, Danny Mullins said: “You’ve got to judge it tactically right. Everyone maybe expected us to burn off in front, but I was just trying to use my jumping as my strongest asset. And even when I got headed over the second last, I knew I wasn’t done with yet, I hadn’t burned the petrol early. The last furlong was where she did her best work.” 

While thrilled with the winner, Willie Mullins was equally proud of the runner-up, feeling Kopek Des Bordes’ final fence peck was the decisive moment of the contest.

He said: “I thought Kopek ran brilliant and I thought Paul (Townend) gave him a fantastic ride in the circumstances. If it wasn't for the mistake at the last I think he would have won without coming off the bridle.

“For a horse having only a second run over fences in a race like the Arkle and just for that mistake at the last it could have gone his way. To do what he did there today was tremendous, I haven't lost any faith in him at all.” Nor has his enthusiastic owner Charlie McCarthy.

“You must be as gracious in defeat as in victory,” he told the Irish Examiner. “He gave it his all, he was beaten on the day but, I can promise you, he’s a right horse you’re going to hear a lot more about him. He’s back on one piece and that’s the most important thing. If he jumped the last, he might have won but we’ll let the people you won today enjoy it.” 

Like the trainer and owner, jockey Townend felt it all hinged on the last fence.

“I thought I’d have been a nice winner with room for improvement if only for the peck at the back of the last, but they’re novice chasers and that happens.

“We’d got to Kargese, we’d headed her and I thought we were going to go away and beat her, but it didn’t surprise me she was still there at the last. She’s a very good mare and tough as nails.

“Fair play to everyone involved with her — they’ve got a really good mare and Danny deserves it as well. At least it was one of our other horses!”