Irancy foils Kopek Des Bordes for shock Punchestown win
Kopek Des Bordes' surrendered his unbeaten record as stablemate Irancy led home a one-two-three-four for Willie Mullins in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Kopek Des Bordes looked a star in the making after following up successive victories Leopardstown with an odds-on success in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and he was a 30-100 market leader to round off a perfect season with another win in Kildare.
However, a couple of sketchy leaps during the early stages set the tone for a disappointing display and he was a spent force turning for home.
Having been ridden more conservatively, 18-1 shot Irancy arrived on the scene travelling strongly under Mark Walsh and powered clear from the final flight to score by nine lengths, with the front-running Salvator Mundi boxing on to beat Karbau to third and Kopek Des Bordes a well-beaten fourth.
Irancy shocks Cheltenham winner and KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle favourite Kopek Des Bordes to win at Punchestown. #rteracing
📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer
https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Results: https://t.co/Emwwoxh31s pic.twitter.com/DsdJjgchfY
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 29, 2025
Mullins said: "We took all the gear off Salvator Mundi today and it worked as far as his jumping was concerned, but he just got running too fast and they couldn't keep that up. Paul, knowing how good Salvator Mundi is, couldn't let him go.
Willie Mullins trained four of six in the feature and offers his thoughts on how things went as Irancy beat the favourites.
#rteracing
📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer
https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Results: https://t.co/Emwwoxh31s pic.twitter.com/rrpECISURl
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 29, 2025
"Irancy has always been a good horse and met with a setback after winning here earlier in the season, but it might have been the best thing to have happened as he came here fresh.
"I gave Kopek Des Bordes a nice break after Cheltenham and probably gave him too much and should have brought him to somewhere like Ayr or Perth!
"Looking at him in the parade ring, I thought he was carrying too much condition and that showed at today's pace."
Mark Walsh speaks to RTE Sport after upsetting the odds at Punchestown, guiding Irancy to victory. #rteracing
📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer
https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Results: https://t.co/Emwwoxh31s pic.twitter.com/inrFjlMAqx
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 29, 2025
Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Saturday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage begins at 3.30pm for first three days and on Friday at 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
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