Moscow Flyer was the highest profile casualty on a day of shocks and falls at Punchestown.
Sent off the 4/11 favourite, the Champion chaser made just one mistake but sadly for his supporters, it proved to be a costly one as at the second last fence, as his error gave Barry Geraghty no chance of staying in the saddle.
Flagship Uberalles, himself the winner of the Champion Chase in 2002, had just improved to throw down a challenge when he was left clear to win for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.
Punters suffered earlier blows with the first two favourites of the afternoon crashing out under jockeys Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty.
Walsh was stood down for 48 hours after being unseated from the gambled-on 11/4 favourite Shady Lad at the second obstacle in the Kildare Hunt Club Chase over the cross country course.
He lay on the ground for some time but walked to the waiting ambulance and was taken to Nass General Hospital for x-rays on his skull and neck.
Those x-rays showed there was nothing amiss with the former Champion jockey and he was recuperating at home within two hours of his fall.
Dr Walter Halley, the Turf Club's Medical Officer, also had news of the sidelined Paul Carberry. 'He is unfit for riding and the situation will be reviewed before racing on Thursday,' he said.
The opener was won by the Ross Geraghty-ridden Native Beat who had just asserted over Clanwick Connection when that rival crashed out at the final fence.
Barry Geraghty took his first fall of the afternoon when short-priced favourite Barrow Drive hit the deck six fences from home in the 2m4f novice chase.
A heavily backed 11/10 favourite, Barrow Drive's exit eased the task of Heart Midoltian who added to his impressive success at Fairyhouse with a four length win from Paul Nicholls' Joly Bey.
Runaway Cheltenham winner Back In Front followed up in the Grade 1 novice hurdle with a two and a half length win over sole English-challenger Limerick Boy.
Back In Front bucked the trend of losing favourites when hitting the front before the last and running on to score in good style.
Trainer Edward O'Grady said, 'We will wait and see but I would like to run him on Friday in the Champion Hurdle.'
There was a spectacular pile-up in front of the stands in the mares bumper with no fewer than 11 horses and riders ending up on the ground.
The only reported injury was suffered by Patrick Murphy, rider of Calder River, who was taken to Naas Hospital suffering from left-sided chest injuries and mid-back pain. He will undergo a full x-ray investigation this evening.
Blue Away, the only runner out of the handicap in the 2m4f hurdle, prevailed in a tight finish to win from Horner Rocks and Formal Bid.
Backed from 20/1 to 14/1, the 5yo won by a head to give trainer Pat Hughes his second successive win in the race.
Kieran Kelly and Dessie Hughes combined to win an eventful 28-runner handicap chase with Whats The Score. Only 11 finished the race.
