Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has cleaned up at the Cheltenham Festival after he backed the winner in the opening race of the meeting.
The legendary midfielder posted a picture of his bet slip on Instagram before the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, opting to back Willie Mullins’ hot favourite, Kopek Des Bordes. In doing so, Scholes revealed that he’d backed the hotpot to the tune of some £2,500.
His faith was duly rewarded as the French-bred recruit, under the steering of Paul Townend, held off a fierce challenge from William Munny to win the Festival’s first race and bank Scholes a cool £5,000. Kopek Des Bordes, the 4-6 favourite, looked impressive throughout as he got the all-powerful Mullins stable – and Scholes – off to the perfect start at the Festival.
Townend almost botched the final hurdle but had more than enough in the tank to fend off the challenger and take the prize, setting up what could have been a devastating day for the bookmakers. However, stablemate Majborough was beaten in the Arkle to save them from a potential multi-million-pound payout, especially after Lossiemouth hosed up in the Mares’ Hurdle.
Aside from that final hurdle, there was not a moment of doubt for those who had chosen to get behind Kopek Des Bordes. He breezed past Romeo Coolio between the second-last and last hurdles to compose himself for a clear run to the finish line.
Scholes’ affinity for horse racing is well known. The 50-year-old co-owned a horse named Box to Box with former England teammates Michael Owen, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves.
Back in 2020 he was spotted with former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-team-mate Nicky Butt on the final day of Chester’s May Festival. Speaking of his love for the sport after being seen at Newmarket to watch his horse run at the July Course Race in 2022, he said: “It is great being back involved with the sport as it gives you a real thrill when they run obviously.”
Scholes will no doubt have been given a thrill on Tuesday afternoon as he saw his horse bring it home. As he crossed the line, rider Townend pointed to the armband the riders were wearing in memory of O’Sullivan, who won the race in 2023 and tragically passed away last month at just 24-years-old following a fall.
After the race Townend said: “It’s the perfect start. We got into a lovely position, I was in front sooner than I wanted to be with a good jump at the second last. I thought Jack [Kennedy on Romeo Coolio] would bring me a little further because he’s relatively inexperienced and had a look at the stands.”
Kopek Des Bordes is owned by Charlie McCarthy along with his four sons through Monabeg Investments Ltd. McCarthy dedicated the victory to the late O’Sullivan, adding: “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.”
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