Rachael Blackmore had a luckless first day at the Punchestown Festival as Paul Towened extended his lead in the title race.
The Tipperary woman was four winners behind her weighing room colleague heading into today's racing.
But she ended the day five behind Towend who rode Chacun Pour Soi to victory in the William Hill Champion Chase, with Blackmore coming in second on Allaho.
The pair were then 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.
It was a day that was dominated by trainer Willie Mullins who saddled five winners, including three Grade 1s.
But Townend was on the wrong of the Mullins' horses on a few occasions, with Echoes In Rain and Jazzaway other winners on the card for Patrick Mullins and Conor McNamara respectively.
Townend was delighted though to steer Chacun Pour Soi to a brilliant victory in the William Hill Champion Chase after disappointing at the Cheltenham Festival.
"That was a proper performance – that was the real Chacun.
"We were all disappointed in Cheltenham. The horse didn’t fire there, but there was no hiding place today – and he jumped for fun.
"His jumping kept me in my comfort zone at all stages – he was electric. That just allowed me to fill him up as we went along, and he was a joy to ride and gave me a serious thrill.
"They’re animals and not machines. He didn’t fire at Cheltenham, but he fired today."
A blank 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.
