Cheltenham Festival: Willie Mullins off the mark as Kargese wins Grade One Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase

Cheltenham Festival’s most successful trainer of all-time, Willie Mullins, only had to wait until the second race on Champion Day to record his first success in 2026 - and 114th in total.

However, it was the apparent second string from Closutton that took the honours as 7/1 Kargese came home two and a quarter lengths in front of stable companion Kopek Des Bordes (11/8) in the Grade One Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase over two miles.

It was Kargese’s second win at The Festival having taken the County Hurdle a year ago.

Willie Mullins said: “I was a bit worried when all those horses were eclipsed in the first - I said, ‘Are we going to have a week like this?’.

“But Kargese was very good - I thought Danny gave her a tremendous ride. He used all the attributes that she has,, and when he wanted a jump at the last he got it. And Paul gave Kopek Des Bordes a tremendous ride for a horse having only his second run over fences in a race like the Arkle. Just that little genuflection after the last; I thought he jumped it well, and if it wasn’t for that genuflection, who knows which way the race would have gone?

“We thought that might happen - that Kargese might make it. My worry was the Kopek might get to the front with Kargese and the two of them might run the powder out of each other, so we wanted something between us, which helped.

“I think Kopek, for horse having his second run this season, to do what he did today was tremendous. I haven’t lost any faith in him. Kargese looks like a Champion Chase horse; we’ll have to decide, Kenny loves to breed from his nice mares, and he might do that.” 

Winning jockey,  Danny Mullins, also spoke after the race, saying: “A lot was made of this filly being hot headed, but I’ve always had a good relationship with her. I’d schooled her plenty at home before Paul had ridden her on the track. In fairness to Paul, he was keeping his cards close to his chest, but he’d told me plenty about this one in the past as well. 

"You’ve got to judge it tactically right. Everyone maybe expected us to burn off in front, but I was just trying to use my jumping as my strongest asset. And even when I got headed over the second last, I knew I wasn’t done with yet, I hadn’t burned the petrol early. The last furlong was where she did her best work.” 

Responding to the point that this was some performance after what looked like a hard race at the Dublin Racing Festival, he said: “It did, but those races have them coming here very hard. In fairness to Ruth, she puts up with most of the hardship at home trying to get her to do a daily canter! My job is a little bit easier, getting up and going at racing speed.

“I’ve been dangerous on a 25/1 shot of Willie’s too! He’s just a master, and to be a part of that team is just unbelievable. To get days like this... these are not a given. These are very special days and I’m very lucky to be used to riding Cheltenham winners and hopefully I can ride plenty more.” 

Kenny Alexander, the successful owner, said: “That was a tremendous performance. She got the job done, and those two behind her are very special horses. She’s beaten them fair and square I think, so an amazing training performance by Willie and a great ride by Danny. She’s a proper one!

“I sell the geldings now and just race the fillies and mares. I’ve been lucky that people have bought them well for me. Henry (de Bromhead) has bought me a lot of very good ones, and Willie has bought me a lot of very good ones too. I’ve been very, very fortunate, and they’ve all been fantastically trained.”