Kopek Des Bordes hung on from William Munny to give Willie Mullins his first win of this year’s festival, an emotional one for Mullins, winning the race named after the late Irish Jockey Michael O’Sullivan who died after a fall last month.
Workahead led early, followed by the two favorites Romeo Coolio and Kopek Des Bordes, as the race progressed Kopek Des Bordes showed his class and outran William Munny who proved to be a great test for Paul Towened on Kopek Des Bordes
Jockey Reaction – Paul Townend
“He’s relatively inexperienced, he had a look at the stands and even with the hood he heard the noise. Missed the last but picked up again at the back of it. He’s just a very, very good horse.”
“He has so little racing done, every day is a school day with him and he’s growing up all the time.
“People said he ran too keen in Leopardstown but we wanted to get him to jump. He’s not the finished article yet and hopefully he can keep improving.”
Trainer Reaction – Willie Mullins
“We sent a good team to try and win it and I’m delighted we did.
“We’ll probably have a go over fences at the and of the season and see what he’s like, and if Paul (Townend) is happy to go chasing with him we will.”
“We put a hood on him, I think it worked nicely, we had it tried on at home and from the saddling stalls onwards he was fine.”
More to follow;
