God's Own and Paddy Brennan leads Simonsig home© Photo Healy Racing
< God's Own (9-1) landed his second Punchestown Festival success by beating Vautour in the BoyleSports Champion Chase.
Tom George's charge won a novice event here two years ago and was the chief beneficiary when Vautour crashed out of the Melling Chase at Aintree recently, but normal service was expected to be resumed, with Vautour sent off the 4-9 favourite.
All appeared to be going to plan when he headed Special Tiara before the second-last, but he lacked the turn of foot of God's Own, who quickened into the lead soon after and then held the rallying Vautour by two lengths, with Simonsig an honourable third.
Cheltenham and Aintree winner Yorkhill couldn't complete a spring festival treble and was bitterly disappointing in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh, on his first ride back since injuring his wrist at the Grand National meeting, never looked entirely happy on Yorkhill, who could only manage a laboured fourth as Jessie Harrington's Don't Touch It (16-1) outmuscled Petit Mouchoir for a half-length triumph.
Following the eclipses of Vautour and Yorkhill, Willie Mullins suffered further Grade One frustration when Outlander had to settle for second behind Zabana (7-2) in the Growise Champion Novice Chase.
The Andrew Lynch-trained winner didn't get to start in controversial circumstances at Cheltenham, but banished that to the memory by making most for a two-length success.
Gordon Elliott was represented by the well-backed Automated in the Killashee Handicap Hurdle but won it instead with Tempo Mac (25-1), who took it up approaching the last and stormed four and a half lengths clear of Ancient Sands
Nicky Henderson was delighted with Simonsig's effort in the feature and looked set for a visit to the winner's enclosure when Jenkins shot clear halfway down the straight in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper, only for him to be pegged back by 22-1 shot Coeur De Lion < Wish Ye Didnt (5-4 favourite) repeated her victory of 2015 in the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase For The Ladies Perpetual
