'He never put out his landing gear' - Salvator Mundi takes advantage after favourite Kopek Des Bordes crashes out
Salvator Mundi and Harry Cobden won the Barberstown Castle Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1). Pic: Healy Racing Photo
Things rarely go to script in racing, especially at the Punchestown festival, but it was still a massive shock to the crowd of 19,548 when 4-11 favourite Kopek Des Bordes took a crashing fall two fences from home in the Grade One Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.
Until that point, there was little to suggest that the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old wouldn’t gain compensation for his Arkle Novices’ Chase second when a mistake at the last almost certainly cost him a second Cheltenham Festival success.
However, his jumping gremlins returned to haunt him at Punchestown as he drifted dramatically left before ploughing through the fence, giving Paul Townend a heavy fall in the process.
His exit opened the door for stablemate Salvator Mundi to land a first Grade One and he did so in impressive fashion, crossing the line 12 lengths clear of Irish Panther with Jacob’s Ladder a further 30 lengths back in third.
“He’s a good horse in his own right,” said Mullins of the winner. “He was right on the premises; it wasn’t as if he was 20 lengths behind and picked up the pieces. He was going to be involved in the finish.
“He’s always been a good horse, but things just haven’t gone right for him. It’s nice to get a big race like that with him. He won in Aintree last year and he’s no back-number.”
On Kopek Des Bordes he added: “He probably just lost his concentration going to the fence, without horses around him to keep him focused.
“He appeared to take off but never put out his landing gear and landed on his knees. I think both horse and rider were very lucky. They seem to be all right.”
Mullins also won the opening race, the Specialist Group Novice Hurdle, with the biggest-priced off his three runners as Beauvallon landed the spoils at odds of 28-1.
Ridden by Danny Mullins, the four-year-old got the better of Immediate Effect by two and a half lengths, much to the joy of the winning trainer.
He said: “I’m delighted with that performance. He’s a horse that is improving.” Having twice found one too good this week, Noel Meade got off the mark at Punchestown 2026 when 6-1 favourite Blue Mosque won the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle to give Donagh Meyler a second winner of the week.
The jockey didn’t have to wait long for winner number three as the Eddie Cawley-trained Come Walk With Me bolted up in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase, the 4-1 favourite, a runaway winner at Fairyhouse last time out, beating Jalila Moriviere by eight lengths.
Meyler said: “Eddie has done a fantastic job with the horse the way he progressed from Fairyhouse. He jumped and travelled today.
“I was as long as I was all year at the last on this lad and it’s just effortless to him. He’s class to sit on and has every attribute that you would want in a racehorse.”
The finish of the day came in the finale, the bumper, where the Declan Queally-trained 9-1 shot Adaboy Mushy came from last to first to deny Bon Bon Fizz in the hands of Barry Stone.
