Rachael Blackmore drew a blank on the first day of the 2021 Punchestown Festival.
The Tipperary had five rides and five chances to bridge the gap on Paul Townend in the race to be champion jump jockey.
But the best she could muster was a second place finish on Allaho behind Townend whose victory on Chacun Pour Soi in the William Hill Champion Chase extended his lead to five winners.
Blackmore opened the meeting with a ride on 12/1 shot Top Line Tommy, but her mount couldn't get competitive and finished last of the 22 runners.
In the first Grade 1 of the meeting - the eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle - she was on Uhtred but the outsider could not land on the blow as Echoes in Rain won for Patrick and Willie Mullins.
Blackmore and Towened were later set for a hugely anticipated clash in the Dooley Insurance Group Novice Chase, with Blackmore on Envoi Allen and Townend riding Monkfish.
But the pair were upstaged by Danny Mullins who rode Colreevy to victory to cause a minor shock.
A luckless day for Blackmore means she appears to have her work cut out to become Ireland’s first female champion jockey, although she does have the likes of Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle and exciting novice Bob Olinger to look forward to later in the week.
