REST OF THE CARD

A RETURN to the scene of his biggest triumph enabled Don’t Touch It to return to his best as he claimed the Pigsback.com Nick Coen Memorial Handicap Chase which headed another excellent day for Jessica Harrington.

Twelve months ago the son of Scorpion won the Grade 1 novice hurdle on the opening day and this time he turned in a fine weight carrying effort under Mark Walsh to carry off this €65,000 prize. The J.P. McManus-owned son of Scorpion cruised through this race and shrugged aside his recent Fairyhouse conqueror Hurricane Ben to lead in between the last two fences.

As is his wont, Don’t Touch It (5/1) idled once he found himself in front but, in first-time cheekpieces, he had plenty left to contain the strong-finishing Caolaneoin by half a length. There was just another half-length back to the winner’s stablemate Neverushacon.

“He was a bit unlucky the last day in Fairyhouse where he just couldn’t quite get to the winner but was able to keep closer to him today,” reported the trainer. “He has a lot of class and he just cruised through the race but he doesn’t do much in front.

“We’re having a fantastic run and everything has come together at the right time and it’s down to the hard work of all the team.”

DREAM TEAM

The extraordinary run being enjoyed by Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power was perhaps best exemplified by the victory of Bobabout in the JLT Handicap Hurdle. The 8/1 shot looked to have lost all chance when he was hampered by the fall of Orchard Road at the fourth last flight and he left the backstraight with just three rivals behind him.

Somehow Bobabout threaded his way through the field and his sustained charge enabled him to pip Runyon Rattler on the line.

“That was the most amazing win as I thought he had lost all chance at the fourth last and Robbie did think about pulling him up,” reflected Harrington, who trains the four-year-old for Howard Spooner. “He loves that ground and a strong run race suits him well.”

FRY AGAIN

Not content with landing the day’s feature, Noel Fehily and Harry Fry promptly followed-up in the Grade B Shamrock Enterprises Handicap Hurdle where the lightly raced Minella Awards defeated compatriot No Comment. At Sandown last month the Maasterson Holdings Limited-owned runner picked up a valuable handicap and he coped well with a further rise in class on just his fifth career outing.

Minella Awards (7/1) loomed up on the outside of the leaders to make his challenge entering the straight and it wasn’t long before he an No Comment left the others behind. No Comment had shaded their previous meeting at Plumpton in January but on this occasion he went down by a length.

“What a 40 minutes! He got another top-class ride from Noel, who is such a huge part of what we have been able to do, and I’m delighted for the Mastersons who have been very patient with this horse. We’ll look forward to him going chasing next season,” stated Fry.

CASH’S LA TOUCHE

Barry Cash, who was riding at his final Punchestown Festival, bagged a second success in the extended four-mile Friends First La Touche Cup courtesy of the Shay Slevin-trained Treo Eile. The Michelle Ryan-owned nine-year-old was only narrowly denied by Enniskillen in Tuesday’s Ladies Cup.

From the second last fence, Treo Eile and Enda Bolger’s odds-on favourite Cantlow were locked in combat and they remained inseparable on the run-in but, in the final yards, Treo Eile established out a narrow advantage to carry the day by a head.

There was some late drama here as Mtada Supreme ran out through the wing of the third last.

“Benny Walsh rode him here on Tuesday and said he stays well and to make more use of him. To be honest though I thought we were playing for place money and I was worried the ground might be a little quick for him,” remarked Slevin. “It’s great for Barry as we both worked in Aidan O’Brien’s around 25 years ago.”

MULLINS FILLS FRAME

In addition to winning one of the Grade 1s and filling the minor placings in the day’s feature, Willie Mullins rounded off the day in style as Asthuria (13/8) led home a one-two-three for the trainer in the Alanna Homes Mares Novice Hurdle.

Asthuria hadn’t enjoyed much fortune this season but here she made the running under Ruby Walsh and she readily kept her rivals at bay from the turn-in.

The George Creighton-owned mare did give her supporters a momentary scare at the last but was almost immediately back on an even keel and she crossed the line five lengths ahead of Pravalaguna with Good Thyne Tara coming through for third.

“Ruby said he was going to jump out and make it and I think we’ve got three nice mares for next season,” stated Mullins.

Neil Mulholland’s Dead Right (8/1) made it four winners on the day for J.P. McManus in the Kildare Post (C&G) Flat Race. The two-race maiden, who was ridden by John Joe O’Neill (son of Jonjo O’Neill), was tackling some decent bumper winners but rose to the challenge in fine style. He launched a determined challenge on the outer turning for home and turned over the odds-on Cheltenham bumper fourth Next Destination by four and a half lengths.

“He got a slight nick behind when he ran over hurdles last time and he’d missed plenty of time so I’m delighted it was a decent race,” observed Mulholland.”

ACTING STEWARDS

C.P. Magnier, J. Weld, P. Coveney, R.W. Steele, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

NEVERUSHACON (Mrs J. Harrington): Since returning from a winter break he has shown up well and he lost by just a length to Don’t Touch It. He won’t have any trouble making his mark.

Slevin ban

J.J. SLEVIN was slapped with a massive 21-day whip ban after partnering First Lieutenant into third in the La Touche Cup. He was found to have used his whip with excessive force and to have used a worn whip. He was also ordered to attend RACE For two days instruction on the correct use of the whip.

Lieutenant retired

FOLLOWING his honourable third in the La Touche Cup, it was announced that First Lieutenant has been retired. The 12-year-old, who was trained by Mouse Morris throughout his career, bows out as the winner of seven of 50 starts which included a Cheltenham Festival win in the 2011 Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle.

He also won the 2013 Betfred Bowl at Aintree and he was closely involved in a pair of epic Lexus Chases, in 2012 and 2013.