Punchestown Festival: Gordon Elliott's The Storyteller earns chaotic day one win

Paul Townend's mishap at the last on Al Boum Photo in the Champion Novice Chase also forced out Finian's Oscar

A chaotic finish to the Champion Novice Chase on day one of the Punchestown Festival saw Gordon Elliott's The Storyteller clinch an unlikely win.

Al Boum Photo led after 2-1 favourite Monalee and Willie Mullins' Invitation Only fell at the second last, only for jockey Paul Townend to veer off course.

As Townend's Al Boum Photo crashed into the rails, also taking out Finian's Oscar, The Storyteller romped home.

Un De Sceaux and Draconien earlier took Grade One wins for Willie Mullins.

Mullins' two victories meant he cut Elliott's Irish trainers' championship lead by more than 115,000 euros, but the Meath man still has a healthy 405,838 euro advantage.

Townend gets bearings wrong

The main memory from the opening day of the festival will be the dramatic conclusion to the penultimate race.

Mullins looked in a strong position rounding the home turn with his hopefuls Invitation Only and Al Boum Photo both in contention either side of Henry de Bromhead's Monalee.

However, Monalee's crashing fall two fences from home also caused Invitation Only to unship David Mullins, which left Al Boum Photo looking set for victory.

However, jockey Townend got his bearings wrong, seemingly under the impression that the field was being directed away from the last fence.

Realising his mistake, Townend attempted to re-adjust but it was too late as Al Boum Photo crashed into the rails, with Robbie Power on Finian's Oscar also forced wide of the final barrier.

The dramatic events allowed this year's Grand National heroes Elliott and Davy Russell to take the victory as The Storyteller, Monbeg Notorious and Jury Duty filled the first three positions for the winning trainer.

After reviewing the race, the stewards gave Townend a 21-day ban for dangerous riding. The jockey has also forfeited his riding fee.

Patrick Mullins rode Un De Sceaux to victory over favourite Douvan in Tuesday's big race

Mullins earns Grade One double

Earlier, Un De Sceaux saw off stable companion Douvan as trainer Mullins landed the Champion Chase after Draconien had secured a surprise 25-1 triumph in the Champion Novice Hurdle.

The trainer's son Patrick was on board the 9-2 Un De Sceaux who dominated throughout as he went on to win by almost three lengths.

Former Arkle Chase hero Douvan, the 4-5 favourite, struggled with his jumping as 33-1 shot A Toi Phil took third.

"When I was told I was riding him I was like Charlie when he got the golden ticket off Willy Wonka," said delighted jockey Mullins after his Champion Chase success.

Willie Mullins fielded four of the 10 runners in the Novice Hurdle but it was his unfancied 25-1 shot Draconien who triumphed after 11-10 favourite Getabird ran out of steam under Townend.

Colin Tizzard's Vision Des Flos, who went off at 11-1, finished two and a quarters lengths behind in second with Elliott's 11-2 shot Mengli Khan in third.

Analysis

Horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght

We all know that jump racing is the most perilous of sports but what a thrill it must be when everything goes as spectacularly right as it did for Un De Sceaux and Patrick Mullins.

Wow - they positively gobbled up the fences along with the opposition. And Douvan, who fell at Cheltenham again, demonstrated he's definitely no back number.

And my goodness, what a contest to be champion trainer between two giants in Mullins and Gordon Elliott.

Big money first-day results went Mullins' way as he struggles to retain the crown and cut back Elliott's lead. There's plenty of life in this contest with four days of the season to go.