Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
Grade 1, Punchestown 16:20 Race Value: €100,000 5yo plus 2m, Class1
Tuesday 26th April 2016

1 Don't Touch It 16/1
2 Petit Mouchoir 11/2
3 Brain Power 20/1
6 ran Distances: ½l, 4½l, 7½l
TIME 4m 3.20s (slow by 18.20s)

A shock in the Herald Novice Hurdle as Don't Touch It claims the win in fighting fashion. Yorkhill only 4th.

Don't Touch It
© Caroline Norris

Yorkhill was a well-held fourth as Don't Touch It held off Petit Mouchoir in a thriller.

Jessica Harrington's horse perhaps showed the benefits of bypassing both Cheltenham and Aintree as he tenaciously fought back to deny Petit Mouchoir and land a first Grade One success.

Yorkhill
© Caroline Norris

Yorkhill, a brilliant winner of both the Neptune and Mersey Novices' Hurdle and unbeaten in six previous starts, proved a major disappointment, jumping left at several flights and never threatening to land a serious blow.

Charbel took the field along at a good gallop, pursued by Petit Mouchoir and Brain Power, with a wide gap back to Yorkhill who raced alongside the eventual winner for much of the race.

With the below-par favourite beaten soon after a mistake as the pace began to quicken, Brain Power moved powerfully at the head of affairs only to be passed by Don't Touch It, who then fought back after getting in close to the last and allowing Petit Mouchoir to briefly hit the front.

Don't Touch It (16/1) passed the post half a length in front of Petit Mouchoir (11/2), whose stablemate Yorkhill was allowed to come home in his own time.

Winning rider Barry 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."

It was a notable victory for the jockey, who was only able to ride at the meeting after his appeal against a ban incurred at Limerick was successful.

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."

The Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
€100,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places

Past Results: