Cheltenham Festival horse owner Charlie McCarthy burst into tears on Tuesday (Image: ITV RACING)
horse owner Charlie McCarthy burst into tears before and after watching Kopek Des Bordes clinch victory in the opening race of this year’s event on Tuesday. The odds-on favourite held off a late challenge from William Munny to win the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
McCarthy was at Cheltenham to witness his horse in action just days after having cancer surgery to have a kidney removed. He had been told to rest for 10 days and returned to racing on the 11th day as Kopek Des Bordes was made to work hard for his victory.
After the race, McCarthy was interviewed by Rishi Persad on . And he said: “[I was] nervous, naturally, but look – he’s a superb horse. He’s something special. It’s something I’ve dreamt about all my life – and my boys did. He’s a decent horse – win, lose or draw, we’ll celebrate it.”
The Irishman was asked about his health battle as he explained: “I had my right kidney removed – cancerous – on the 26th of February. But he (Kopek Des Bordes) kept me going.”
McCarthy was then overcome with emotion as he fought back tears and wiped his eyes. “Sorry,” he exclaimed, before adding: “He kept me going through all of it.”
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Kopek Des Bordes clinched victory in the opening race of this year’s Cheltenham Festival (Image: GETTY)
The winning owner then spoke to and revealed he would donate to the family of jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who sadly lost his life in a fall last month.
“To be honest about it, it’s a wonderful day for me because Michael O’Sullivan – the race is called after him – he lived about two kilometres from me and I’ll donate this to the O’Sullivan family because he was a wonderful jockey,” McCarthy stated.
“To be fair about it, we’ll enjoy it. We’re from County Cork, the O’Sullivans and myself, and it’s an all-round occasion. And it’s wonderful to be alive today, to be here today, to celebrate – and I’m going to celebrate.” He then joked: “I just swam across the Irish sea to be here.”
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Meanwhile, winning jockey Paul Townend said after the race: “That’s the perfect start to the week. I got in a lovely position but I was at the front sooner than I wanted to be.
“He had a look at the stands – despite the hood – and missed the last, but picked up. He is a very good horse. I think he can go to the top because he has had so little racing.
“Every day is a school day and he is growing up all the time. He isn’t the finished article yet.”