Constitution Hill fell for the second time in succession as Lossiemouth landed the Aintree Hurdle to seal a Grade One four-timer for trainer Willie Mullins on the first day of the Grand National meeting.
The Nicky Henderson-trained favourite suffered a shock departure in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
It looked as though he was travelling well for Nico de Boinville on Thursday - turning for home this time, although he was trying to find racing room.
But as De Boinville switched out to launch his challenge, Constitution Hill once again got his jumping wrong and hit the turf, leaving Lossiemouth and Wodhooh at the head of the field.
Paul Townend then seized the initiative on Lossiemouth and the pair won by two and three-quarter lengths.
"I was disappointed for Michael [Buckley, owner], Nicky and Nico and the connections of Constitution Hill - and for racing," said Mullins, whose charge had been beaten by Henderson's star at Kempton in December.
"We came here knowing our mare was in good shape and we thought the trip would suit us this time.
"When Paul made his move it has eventually paid off, but I was wondering had he done it too soon.
"Nico has a great habit of looking like he is under pressure and then finding another bit in the last furlong. A couple of times, we've thought we had Nico beat and he's actually got a little bit up his sleeve, so I did wonder if Paul had played his cards too early. But it was gifted to him so what could he do?"
Henderson was left trying to make sense of what he had seen.
"It is heartbreaking and to do it twice, you couldn't believe it really," he said.
"He is genuinely the best jumper you'll ever see. But in that vocabulary there is just what you would have called a one per cent chance of doing what he's done, but he's done it twice, which does worry you, of course it does. But how can you iron it out?
"As Nico said, he'd been fantastic the whole way. At a couple of hurdles he went in short and that's what we've been trying to get him to do, but when you're going to three out and racing like that you can't afford to do that, you've got to go, and Nico said he just came up too soon.
"Nico said he was full of running and his words to me were that he actually had Lossiemouth where he wanted her. He was happy with her in front rather than behind."
It was the fourth win from the first four races on the day's card for trainer Willie Mullins with Townend taking the ride on three of the four winners.
Impaire Et Passe (9-4), who skipped the Cheltenham Festival, started the run under Townend in the Manifesto Novices' Chase before Murcia (11-4) claimed an easy win in the Juvenile Hurdle for the pair.
Mullins' son Patrick then became the first amateur rider to win the Bowl with a well-timed ride on Gaelic Warrior (11-4) to overhaul Grey Dawning for owners ...
