Don't Touch It© Photo Healy Racing
Jessica Harrington trained, J.P. McManus owned Don't Touch It justified 8/11 favouritism in thoroughly impressive style in the opening Donohue Marquees Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown today, winning eased down for most of the run-in, under jockey Barry Geraghty.
Runner-up on his two previous maiden hurdle starts, the son of Scorpion today raced in company with main rival Beau Mome for much of the trip but readily shook off that rival in the home straight, eventually sauntering to an effortless 13 lengths win.
Afterwards Harrington stated “Ruby (Walsh, on Beau Mome) put it up to him, and he put it to bed fairly quickly into the straight. He fiddled the third last but apart from that he jumped well and quickened away well.
"I'm not sure what the plan will be but I think he could be very good. He has a lot of gears, and he's been learning all the time."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee