KOPEK DES BORDES will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after Willie Mullins decided against a run in Saturday’s Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. He’s working well and everything is positive but he’s just not happy to take on these horses at the moment. “I asked him what was plan B and he said we’re going straight to Cheltenham. Jack Kennedy will ride Mullins’ 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus, leaving Haiti Couleurs’ regular jockey Sean Bowen to partner Gordon Elliott’s Firefox. Gaelic Warrior, Spindleberry, Champ Kiely, Grangeclare West and Lecky Watson also run for champion trainer Mullins.