Fermoy and Cork celebrate owner Charlie McCarthy's win in the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Charlie McCarthy's Kopek Des Bordes got punters off to a flyer in an emotional start to the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday. 

The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novice Hurdle got the four day festival underway as 50,000 fans clapped in unison in a lovely tribute to the Lombardstown jockey, who tragically lost his life over three weeks ago. 

Sporting a hood for the first time, Willie Mullins’ gelding was fighting to retain his unbeaten record and started as the 4-6 favourite under Paul Townend for the opening race of the 2025 Festival.

He neatly delivered, tracking long-time leader Workahead and then kicking clear up the hill to hold off a challenge from William Munny, despite a jumping error at the last hurdle.

The length and three-quarters runner-up ran a huge race in defeat, and so nearly carried the colours famously sported by the late Michael O’Sullivan when the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale won the corresponding event in 2023.

The presentation of the trophy was made by his brother Alan and uncle Eugene who were thrilled to have winning Cork owners and Lisgoold’s Paul Townend in the saddle. 

Kopek Des Bordes is owned by Fermoy man Charlie McCarthy along with his four sons and it was a special win for him after undergoing surgery for cancer just 11 days ago. 

“I had cancer of my right kidney and I had my kidney removed. I had the top people look after me, I’m disease free and I’m going to have one hell of a party," McCarthy said.

"I don’t want to cry but I can tell you one thing, I’m on cloud nine. Is there a bigger cloud to be on?

”I just can’t get over it, to be here with my sons and win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after everything I’ve been through. 

"This is a dream come true and the dream is not finished yet. 

"That’s National Hunt racing, the small man can have a say in it and I’m no small man but I am the small man here. 

"National Hunt racing is what I love.” 

McCarthy dedicated the victory to O’Sullivan, who died last month aged 24 due to injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles. 

“It’s unreal. It’s a wonderful day for me because the race is named after Michael O’Sullivan, he lived about 20 kilometres from me and I’ll donate this to the O’Sullivan family, because he was a wonderful jockey.

”I met his brother earlier and I said ‘I would love to win it for the O’Sullivan family’. 

"We’ll enjoy it, we’re from county Cork, the O’Sullivan’s and myself, and it’s a wonderful occasion.” 

Winning jockey Paul Townend was wearing a Cork armband as a mark of respect to his lost friend and colleague. 

The Lisgoold jockey was coolness personified as William Munny came with a strong challenge coming to the last. 

“It’s great to win this race for Cork owners in a race named after one of our own. I think he’s a very good horse," Townend said.

 "He covers so much ground and I would say you never know how quick you are going on him throughout a race, he has a huge engine and it was a big performance. 

"Michael was a big part of our team and lived locally and he was a Cork man as well, so he’s in everyone’s thoughts every day still. 

"I guess we can count ourselves lucky to have known him for the short time that we did and he was an incredible young man.”