Moscow Flyer suffered defeat for the first time in 20 completed starts over fences when touched off by Rathgar Beau in a thrilling finish to the Kerrygold Champion Chase.
The top rated chaser looked set to maintain his amazing record over fences until blundering badly at the second last, leaving Rathgar Beau with a slight advantage under Shay Barry at the last.
The pair battled it out neck and neck to the line, and it took the judge Brendan Sheridan nine minutes to separate them with Native Upmanship staying on well just a length back in third.
'The luck went our way this time. That's my first Grade 1 winner and he's the first to beat Moscow Flyer over fences,' said successful trainer Dusty Sheehy.
Jessica Harrington was philosophical in defeat saying, 'It was always going to happen some day, and he never seems to go as well here as anywhere else.'
'He's had a fantastic year and will live to fight another day. I'm disappointed but have no regrets about running him. Horses are there to race.'
Wild Passion, runner-up in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, went one better in the Punchestown equivalent - the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
Paul Carberry set sail for home three out and, after Kill Devil Hill threw down a strong challenge in the straight, the 7/4 favourite dug deep to just hold on by a short-head.
'He's very lazy but stays well and might come back here on Friday for the two and a half mile novice,' said trainer Noel Meade, who favours going chasing with him next season.
Carberry initiated a double earlier aboard the easy-to-back Davids Lad (5/2-7/2), who recorded his first win over fences since 2001 when taking the three miles cross country chase.
Tony Martin's charge was patiently ridden to head the front-running Native Beat at the second last, and stayed on well in the straight to beat Shady Lad by 4 1/2L.
'He deserved that, and has always been a good leaper as jumping comes natural to him. He will probably go down the cross country route now, although the Galway Plate is also a possibility,' said Martin.
Paul's sister Nina was also on the mark as Mansony gained compensation for a couple of near misses in big handicaps by landing the Tote Ireland 75th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle.
The Arthur Moore-trained gelding led off the home turn, and kept on well under pressure to beat Raikkonen by a length.
'He deserved that after going up 16lb in the ratings since the Pierse Hurdle. He's a lovely horse for the future and will go chasing next season,' said Moore.
Timmy Murphy was taken for x-rays on his right wrist after a fall from Emotional Article having ridden a winner earlier on Forget The Past in the Ellier Developments Novice Chase.
Michael O'Brien's charge scored in good style, prominent throughout for Murphy and drawing clear after three out to beat Quazar by five lengths.
'He gets into a rhythm jumping and likes to do his own thing. The family seem to get better with age, and hopefully he'll go on to better things next season,' said trainer Michael O'Brien.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Its a Dream struck a first blow for the British raiding party when taking the valuable Goffs Land Rover Bumper.
Aidan Fitzgerald had the Oscar gelding up with the pace, and sent him clear early in the straight to beat Virginia Preuil by four lengths.
Nay made all under Niall Madden in the other bumper on the card, staying on gamely under pressure in the final furlong to hold off fellow newcomer Well Mounted by 4L.
The Boys In Green justified strong support (6/1-4/1f) in the two miles handicap chase, benefiting from a powerful drive by Tony McCoy to outpoint Cluain Rua by 1/2L.
The attendance of 14,779 was down 450 on the corresponding day last year.
Alan Magee
