Willie Mullins is backing both Kopek Des Bordes and Final Demand to defy their respective challenges when they head to the Cheltenham Festival next month.

The former cemented his reputation as a star of the future when landing the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago, but will return to Prestbury Park with the history books against him when he clashes with Lulamba in the Arkle, having run just once over fences in public.