Cork man Charlie McCarthy above 'cloud nine' after win at Cheltenham

“Did you ever hear of cloud nine? Is there a place above it?”

That was the reaction of Fermoy’s Charles McCarthy when asked how he felt seeing his horse, Kopek Des Bordes, win the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today. 

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, ridden by Paul Townend, started as the 4-6 favourite and won in the opening race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Mr McCarthy, chairman of the 18-branch McCarthy Insurance Group, owns Kopek Des Bordes with his four sons, CJ, James, David, and Andrew.

Speaking to The Echo after the race, Mr McCarthy said he and his sons were over the moon at their victory.

“This is the biggest win we’ve ever had. To win at Cheltenham is a dream come true, and the dream isn’t over yet,” he said.

There was a moment when breath was held as Kopek Des Bordes rattled the final hurdle in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he landed well and held off William Munny to take the prize.

As he crossed the line, jockey Paul Townend pointed to the armband the riders were wearing in memory of Michael O’Sullivan, the Lombardstown native who had won the race in 2023 and died last month following a fall.

The win by Kopek Des Bordes was given extra emotional weight by the horse’s owner having successfully undergone cancer surgery at Cork University Hospital in the past two weeks.

“I had cancer of my right kidney and I had to have my kidney removed. Top people looked after me in the hospital and I’m disease-free now,” said Mr McCarthy. 

“I’ve been interested in horses all my life, I’ve always had a horse here and there, but nothing comes close to this.

“It’s just a dream come true to be here in Cheltenham with my sons and win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after everything I’ve been through.”

Mr McCarthy said he and his sons were “definitely” planning on marking their big win this afternoon, but he predicted that the real celebrations would only begin when they got home to Fermoy.

“There will be a party, but how, where, and what, we’ll have to decide, but don’t you know there’ll be a party.

“Sure, when did we ever need an excuse to have a party?”