Expert jury: which Leopardstown performance impressed you most on Sunday with the Cheltenham Festival in mind?

'He's a star in the making'

Kopek Des Bordes had already looked a star in the making in two starts for Willie Mullins, but his runaway victory in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle was a statement of intent.

Now a general 6-4 favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he travelled and jumped strongly without Paul Townend needing to ask him for anything. He was sent for home on the final turn and never looked back, while the form of his hurdles debut win in December has also been franked since.

As good as Salvator Mundi was at Punchestown last month, I still didn’t know what to make of the Supreme market before Sunday, but Kopek Des Bordes made light work of his Grade 1 rivals here and has surely given Townend a difficult choice on who to ride in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Liam Headd, Lambourn correspondent

'He reminded me of Galopin Des Champs'

Visually Kopek Des Bordes was the most impressive, but I've finally joined the fanfare that surrounds Ballyburn after being taken by his win in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase.

It is clear now that staying trips are going to be his game, but he does have a nice blend of speed to go with that as he showed when winning by five lengths from the underrated Croke Park, who is a dual Grade 1 winner in his own right. 

The way Ballyburn powered clear after the final fence reminded me of Galopin Des Champs, and around the Old course he could have more gears than his stamina-laden stablemate Dancing City.

Looking further ahead, a return to Kempton for the King George looks a viable long-term target, although I still think he will have to step up quite a bit to challenge Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup picture.
Matt Rennie, reporter

'I will be backing Storm Heart wherever he turns up'

Kopek Des Bordes was clearly the most impressive winner on the card and he should provide Willie Mullins with a record-extending eighth win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

While Kopek Des Bordes will likely kick off most Cheltenham Festival multiples, including my own, it was his stablemate Storm Heart who caught my eye. Making his handicap debut after 274 days off the track, Storm Heart had most of his 17 rivals in the Listed 2m handicap hurdle ahead of him turning for home, but he stayed on really well to finish second under Paul Townend.

He will undoubtedly come on for that reappearance, and although his rating will be higher than the 140 he ran off here, I will be backing Storm Heart for whatever festival handicap he turns up in.

Nurburgring finished a place ahead of Storm Heart in last season’s Triumph Hurdle and went on to win the Galway Hurdle, and there should be a similarly valuable handicap in the Gigginstown-owned eyecatcher.
Charlie Huggins, reporter

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'There aren't many who can do that' - Willie Mullins wowed by Kopek Des Bordes as he is slashed to 7-4 Supreme favourite 

State Man breezes to third successive Irish Champion Hurdle after fall of stablemate Lossiemouth 

Willie Mullins 'never lost faith' in Ballyburn as top prospect cut to 15-8 favourite for Brown Advisory after Grade 1 win  

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