Red-hot favourite Yorkhill was bitterly disappointing as Don’t Touch It claimed victory in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins-trained Yorkhill was hugely impressive in winning the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival and having followed up in workmanlike fashion at Aintree, he was a prohibitively priced 4-9 market-leader to complete his hat-trick in the first Grade One of the week in County Kildare.
However, the warning signs were evident for odds-on backers a long way from home, with Ruby Walsh getting to work before the home turn on his first ride back from injury and Yorkhill eventually finished well-beaten in fourth place.
Jessica Harrington’s Don’t Touch It was settled in last place early on by Barry Geraghty, but moved stylishly into contention.
The 16-1 shot hit the front in the straight and although Yorkhill’s stable companion Petit Mouchoir kept him honest after the final flight, Don’t Touch It knuckled down to score by half a length.
Brain Power was third for Nicky Henderson.
Geraghty said: “We went a strong gallop and they kind of died around me and I was left in front sooner than ideal.
“He had a look going to the last, but he rallied well and it was a good performance.
“Jessie thought he had a chance and thought it was the right race for him, so it was a good call by her.”
Harrington said: “I always felt that better ground would bring out the best in him. He got bogged down the last day and had to miss an intended engagement at Fairyhouse with an infection in his leg. We trained him for here, and he’s done us proud.
“It’s great when the horses are running well and it can be infectious for the whole yard.
“That was a hell of a step up as he’d only won a maiden hurdle.
“He jumped great off that ground. They went fast in front but he cruised into it and Barry said he got lairy in front, but then went on again when the other horse came to him.”
In the opening race of the day Wish Ye Didnt got favourite backers off to a flyer by successfully defending her crown in the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase.
Representing the formidable combination of trainer Enda Bolger and jockey Nina Carberry, the seven-year-old mare was the 5-4 market-leader to clinch the Ladies Perpetual Cup for a second time on the banks course in County Kildare.
Carberry cut a confident figure throughout and Wish Ye Didnt quickened up from the home turn, safely negotiating the final obstacle to seal a nine-and-a-half-length success.
It was a sixth victory in the last seven runnings of the three-mile contest for cross-country king Bolger.
Enniskillen was runner-up for the second successive year.
