The Arkle, the second race at Cheltenham, went the way of Kargese for Danny Mullins and Willie Mullins.
Billed as one of the crunch head-to-heads of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba represented a true Ireland vs Britain situation. However, the six-runner field possessed depth beyond them, notably with Kargese and Steel Ally, to ensure it was not a total head-to-head contest.
In-running it proved to be a more open affair. Ultimately, Mullins judged it perfectly aboard the Mullins second string as Kargese led the whole way, beating her more vaunted stablemate into second.
Jumping proves the name of the game
Lulamba vs Kopek Des Bordes was billed as one of the matches of the meeting. The latter came out on top, but does not return with a second Cheltenham Festival victory.
Kargese set out in front and jumped superbly, whereas Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba both notably missed fences on the way round, and up the final straight. As a result, the winner continually stole a march, which winning rider Danny Mullins highlighted as a game plan.
“I wanted to use my (Kargese’s) jumping as my best asset,” Mullins said to ITV Racing about the victory. “I knew I’d saved something before the second last.”
It was a fourth victory for Danny Mullins at the Festival. It was also his first over fences and just his second riding for uncle, Willie Mullins.
It was a highly promising effort from Kopek Des Bordes in second on just his second ever chase start. Some patchy early jumping seemed to be giving way to some smoother efforts. However, just as he drew level at the last, a big peck on landing cost him significant ground.
By that time, Lulamba had already dived at the penultimate fence. Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville’s charge had been slow at a few fences before that moment. Despite running on, he had to settle for third.