Willie Mullins’s attempt to win the British Trainers Title, which saw him run many of his stars at Aintree for the first time may well have diminished his winning power for the Punchestown Festival where he has traditionally dominated and saddled 15 winners last season.

Ireland’s champion trainer saddled the favourite for the three Grade 1s on day one but had to wait until the final race to get off the mark for the day.

HERALD CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE (Grade 1)

Yorkhill was the first of his runners to disappoint when losing his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1). He settled much better than at Aintree two weeks ago, but jumped out to his left and could finish only fourth at 4/9, beaten before the turn-in, to Don’t Touch It (16/1) and Petit Mouchoir. Still, three Grade 1s is a pretty good return for his novice hurdle season and he looks a good chasing prospect having won a point-to-point. This was his first defeat save a fall on his first point run.

Though headed by Petit Mouchoir, who again showed that his Cheltenham run was below par, Don’t Touch It rallied under a Barry Geraghty drive and gave Jessica Harrington another Grade 1 Punchestown winner and a top level success for Scorpion, while still looking a shade green. Nicky Henderson’s Brain Power ran well in third.

God's Own and Paddy Brennan (Blue colours) win the Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Steeplechase with Simonsig Barry Geraghty (third).

BOYLESPORTS CHAMPION CHASE

Before the two mile Champion Chase, bookmaker Ray Mulvany was offering odds 7/4 Vautour to win by five and a half lengths or less, and 3/1 Vautour by six and a half lengths. The brilliant Cheltenham winner was sent off at 4/9 to make amends for his Aintree fall over this shorter distance.

He jumped well but never showed the ears pricked spring that he had in the Ryanair at Cheltenham or up to his departure at Aintree, both left-handed tracks. Again he battled on well as he had in the two and a half mile Ascot Chase last November, also going right-handed. “That was one Willie got wrong,” was comment coming off the stand but it was difficult to be certain whether it was the distance or the track that caused his defeat.

In an ATR interview Rich Ricci was non-committal over what his target might be next year but a crack at the Gold Cup would surely look logical for the gelding who will still only be eight next year. His form at Cheltenham in March exceeds all his other efforts.

God’s Own was, in hindsight, a generous 9/1 and followed up his Aintree win in good style, leading over the last and staying on well, giving Paddy Brennan another Grade 1 win in a fine season. He described the “ground as like a carpet”.

Tom George's charge has always been high class at this time of year and was following up his win in the Grade 1 novice here two years ago.

This was also a bit of a boost for the form of the one horse to disappoint in recent months for Willie Mullins - Un De Sceaux - who had beaten Gods Own by six lengths in last year’s Arkle.

Simonsig was having his first run over fences since his Arkle win in 2013 ran a cracker in third, only losing second close home to the staying on Vautour. Special Tiara was disapointing, fading after making the early running.

Zabana with Davy Russell, owner Chris Jones and groom Laura McDermott after their win

GROWISE CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE (Grade 1)

The most popular winner of the day was the Davy Russell ridden Zabana for Andy Lynch and owner Chris Jones. This was sweet compensation for the misfortune at Cheltenham when Davy Russell was unseated at the start when well fancied for the JLT.

The winner was in the front rank throughout, jumped well and stayed on in strong style to hold of Outlander

Though described as a still a shell of a horse, he has the potential to go far next year as he jumps and travels and was second to a potential Grade 1 horse in Au Ptit Soins in last year’s Coral Hurdle though good ground looks necessary.

Outlander stayed on well and always runs to form but may struggle next season in open company.

Ballychorus’s season has been dogged by jumping errors and she fell for the third time this season and caused some trouble by running loose across the field before turning in. Southfield Royale was very disappointing an well out of contention before the last.

Gordon Elliot was on the scoreboard after the handicap hurdle when Luke Dempsey gave Tempo Mac (25/1) a fine ride from the back of the field to swoop clear for a comfortable four and a half length win from Ancient Sands and Tom Gibney’s fellow 25/1 shot Too Choose.

Elliott gave credit to Paul Flynn for sending the horse to him and he will be campaigned on the flat this summer.

Nicky Henderson’s Jenkins (8/11) was a warm order all day for the Land Rover Bumper, but with Patrick Mullins in the saddle he looked the likely winner entering the final furlong only to be caught by the strong finish of Couer De Lion and Barry O’Neill from the Robert Tyner yard. Tyner had seen off Henderson at the sales to acquire the son of Voix Du Nord for £€75,000.

Both the Noel Meade-trained Moulin A Vent and the Gordon Elliott-trained Brelade ran with promise in third and fourth.

Willie Mullins’ day did not always go to plan but he finally got off the mark in the concluding Donohue Marquees Flat Race when son Patrick prevailed on 100/30 favourite Cilaos Emery. The son of the Boardsmills Stud sire Califet, he ran on well to hold off Jessica Harrington’s Someday.

Wish Ye Didnt and Nina Carberry jump the Big Double bank on their way to winning the Ladies Cup Cross Country Steeplechase

Racing opened with an easy win for Nina Carberry on the Enda Bolger-trained mare Wish Ye Didn’t’ (5/4) who handled the cross-country track with typical flair for a Bolger runner in the J.P. McManus colours.

Dont forget to pick up this week's The Irish Field for all the reports, analysis, comments and photos of the Punchestown Festival week.