Kopek Des Bordes expected to deliver at Punchestown Proud owner Charlie McCarthy is confident Kopek Des Bordes can round off his season on a high in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday. The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old disappointed at the end-of-season fixture 12 months ago following victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but McCarthy believes he is this year heading to County Kildare at the top of his game following a light campaign. After impressing on his chasing debut at Navan, the six-year-old was not seen again until returning Prestbury Park for the Arkle last month, when he looked the likely winner before a final-fence error saw him left chasing home his stablemate Kargese. With the latter not in opposition, Kopek Des Bordes will be a red-hot favourite to get back on the winning trail and his owner is in bullish mood. He said: “His preparation has been exceptional and from the minute he came home from Cheltenham his target was Punchestown, there was no talk of going to Aintree or anything like that. “We were ever so thankful for him to come home from Cheltenham in one piece because he’s a horse that myself and the boys love. “He’s in superb form and has improved quite a lot, so we’re expecting a big run out of him. “There are no excuses and bar a fall, I think he’ll win.” Mullins also saddles Salvator Mundi, who was last seen finishing second to shock winner Mirabad in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree three weeks ago. The biggest threat to the Closutton duo is Irish Panther, who reverts to novice company for the father-son training partnership of Eddie and Patrick Harty after finishing sixth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. “Everything has been good since Cheltenham and this was the obvious target for him at Punchestown. We held him back for it, rather than rushing him back for Aintree as I’ve experienced that before and it didn’t work,” said Harty senior. “We couldn’t be happier with him, he’s had a great season and he’s in good form, so we can only turn up on the day and give it our best shot – you can’t legislate for the opposition. “He likes nice ground, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.” The Jimmy Mangan-trained Pure Steel and Gordon Elliott’s Jacob’s Ladder complete the quintet.
