'He will get warm and jig-joggy beforehand' - Kopek Des Bordes the Supreme standout - but will the hood keep a lid on his temperament?

Will it be over before it even begins for Kopek Des Bordes? It's those tense moments between 1pm and 1.20pm rather than the four minutes or so it will take to win it that could decide whether we have a winning favourite to start this year's festival.

He's exciting but edgy; highly talented but highly strung; impressive but impatient; he's unbeaten but wears a hood for the first time.

What Kopek Des Bordes did at the Dublin Racing Festival was truly extraordinary, but it's what he did before the race that might prevent some punters from getting stuck in at skinny odds.

"He has a hood on because he did get a bit tetchy beforehand in the parade ring and on the way down to the start at Leopardstown. He ran a little bit keen early, too," Ruby Walsh said on Racing TV's The Road To Cheltenham on Monday.

Patrick Mullins rode him on his jumping debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, when he was lit up from the word go and kicked every hurdle out of the ground, so he is probably in a better position than most to comment on his character.

When asked how he thinks Kopek Des Bordes will cope with the big occasion, Mullins replied: "I do think he'll get warm and he will be a little jig-joggy but, at the same time, I also think he would probably have learnt from the experience the last day at Leopardstown. I think he will settle and jump fine in the race itself.

"But, the one thing I would definitely say, is that he will get warm and jig-joggy beforehand, but I don't think it will be too much of a negative for him.”

Kopek Des Bordes and Paul Townend on Monday morning at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Interesting. Do you want to be taking a shade of odds-on about a horse who will get warm and be very much on his toes in the preliminaries?

Walsh called his jumping "deplorable" at Christmas, but felt it was much better when he bolted up in a Grade 1 next time. He would be happier to see Kopek Des Bordes wearing earplugs rather than a hood, though.

He said: "Some horses don't like earplugs, they don't like things put into their ears, so you cover them over with a hood. Personally, if you can use earplugs it's better, because you can read the situation. You're all-in with the hood. He's declared in it and that's that. If he's grand and relaxed in the parade ring, you can't take it off. With earplugs, you can take them out.

"With a hood, you are dulling the noise but also, horses use their hearing to ignite their flight, so you are tapering that down a little as well. That's why I prefer earplugs, because you always have the option to take them out, whereas with a hood you're all-in."

Plenty of punters will be all-in on him, too, but those who are will be keeping a close eye on what happens before the tape goes up. It could be over before it all begins.

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Kopek could be a superstar - but opposition worth considering

It has been common knowledge since the Dublin Racing Festival that the Supreme would feature a short-priced favourite. Kopek Des Bordes’s performance at Leopardstown was spectacular by anyone's standards and he could be the next superstar to transcend the jumping game.

The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle has been an outstanding guide to the novice hurdles at Cheltenham in recent seasons and Kopek Des Bordes simply bossed it.

Since 2018 we have seen two Supreme winners (Klassical Dream and Appreciate It) and three Turners winners (Samcro, Sir Gerhard and Ballyburn) warm up for Cheltenham with victory in that race. Given the free-going nature and pure speed of Kopek Des Bordes, there can be little doubt he belongs in the Supreme.

Few could deny there is room for improvement in certain areas, however. This five-year-old pulls hard and his jumping left plenty to be desired when winning his maiden hurdle. There was, at least, more conviction in his hurdling at the DRF.

Kopek Des Bordes: eases to victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle

Kopek Des Bordes starred at Leopardstown, but the preliminaries could be importantCredit: Patrick McCann

Willie Mullins reaching for a hood is interesting. Horses sporting that piece of equipment for the first time at the festival are 5-45 since 2010 (+£25.88 level-stakes profit) and the trainer pulled the trick off last season with Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle. Cheltenham is well known for its raucous atmosphere and Kopek Des Bordes’s buzzy nature makes the appeal for that headgear understandable.

Considering the breadth of opposition, Kopek Des Bordes will need to limit the amount he does wrong for what is arguably the strongest novice hurdle of the week.

William Munny is another to don a first-time hood for Barry Connell, who knows a Supreme horse when he sees one. William Munny hinted at Grade 1 promise in his bumper days and was a slow-burner over hurdles initially.

After being turned over in his first two, the seven-year-old settled and jumped much better last time when a rampant winner at Punchestown. The race may have lacked depth but it proved he belongs in elite company.

While William Munny has been busy climbing the ladder in the novice division, Workahead has been keeping his powder dry.

Workahead gave a good beating to William Munny at Leopardstown over Christmas and was put away with this race in mind. That is an unusual move for an inexperienced novice, but an interesting one too.

Henry de Bromhead is one of the best in the business at targeting the festival and knows what works for different horses. Workahead is clearly no slouch, having run an almost identical time to Kopek Des Bordes in the other maiden hurdle on the Leopardstown card while carrying 5lb more.

Romeo Coolio will be considered the solid each-way proposition by many. After coming unstuck at odds-on in the Royal Bond, he seemed to appreciate the switch to more positive tactics when breaking his Grade 1 duck in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle.

Like Workahead, Romeo Coolio has been kept fresh for the big day, for all he’s already ticked off a decent prize and his season began around a month earlier.

Unlike most Supremes, last year's running failed to produce a real top-notcher. Let us hope the race is restored to its past glories and a wonderkid or two surfaces to set the tone for the week.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Kopek Des Bordes, Salvator Mundi, Irancy, Karbau, Karniquet and Funiculi Funicula
Kopek Des Bordes looked a cut above normal when winning a Grade 1 impressively at Leopardstown and is our best chance in this race. He’s been in top form at home and should take beating. Salvator Mundi looked a bit novicey when winning at Punchestown but the race wasn’t run to suit him. He has a big engine and might give Kopek most to do. Irancy won his maiden hurdle in great style back in November but had a setback afterwards and hasn’t raced since. His recent homework has been very good and he will be of interest to each-way punters. Karbau improved dramatically from his first run when winning very well at Punchestown. He deserves his chance here. Karniquet came from a long way back when second to Kopek Des Bordes at Leopardstown. If he settles and lies up here, a case can be made for his place prospects. Funiculi Funicula won nicely at Clonmel and jumps very well. He could be thereabouts today.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Romeo Coolio
It was always the intention to keep him fresh for this. He's by Kayf Tara and I wasn't overly keen to run him after Christmas. He's had a nice break and I'm very happy with where I have him. He looks great and his work has been very good. Kopek Des Bordes could be anything, but we've figured out how best to ride Romeo Coolio now and I think he's got a great each-way chance. He'll run his race.

Patrick Mullins, rider of Salvator Mundi
He's a gorgeous ride to pick up. He settled and jumped well in the Triumph last year and I think on better ground he will do so again in the Supreme. The Moscow Flyer was a dawdle and didn't suit him at all. He's a very impressive work horse and I thought his performance at Punchestown was very good despite his difficulties in the race. I'd be expecting him to be fighting it out coming down to the last hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Sky Lord and Workahead
Workahead looks great. It was always the plan to give him a break after he won his maiden hurdle and come straight here. That Leopardstown form has worked out really well so we're hopeful of a big run. I think Sky Lord will outrun his odds, too. That inside track didn't suit him at all at Punchestown and he had to do the donkey work himself. A fast pace will suit him here and I thought he looked good when he won his maiden hurdle at Cork. He could surprise a few people.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Tripoli Flyer
He's very well and we're happy with him. He's a very good horse and we think he's one of the special ones – he just loves being a racehorse and that's always a plus. It's a tough race, but we think he can give them a good go and take them on.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Tutti Quanti
He's got a mountain to climb on all known form but he's fairly unexposed. He was second to Joyeuse at Taunton on his debut, which looks like good form, before winning well at Ffos Las. He then had a setback but ran nicely at Newbury before getting tired. If he could finish in the first six we'd be thrilled.

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