Hot favourite can't be touched at Thurles Don’t Touch It opened his account over fences when justifying prohibitive odds in the Templemore Begimnners Chase at Thurles. The 2/7 favourite, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles last term at the Punchestown Festival, travelled well to lead after two out and asserted for Mark Walsh with the minimum of fuss on the run-in. The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding came home a comfortable three lengths clear of Dicosimo, with the front-running O Ceallaigh a further six lengths adrift in third. Harrington's daughter Kate said, "That was great to get that out of the way and he was entitled to do that. Mum will have a chat with Frank (Berry) and J.P. (McManus) and decide where to go next. "Spring is always his season and he did everything that was asked of him, so hopefully it's onwards and upwards." (TW & AM)
