Russ Garrity on Hussard Collonges salutes the crowd

Five millimetres of overnight rain effectively dashed the hopes of McCoy's mount Edredon Bleu in the feature race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The long-time ante-post favourite and 2000 Queen Mother champion then drifted in the market to be replaced by Flagship Uberalles, who went on to take the title.

The Philip Hobbs-trained horse was ridden by Richard Johnson, McCoy's nearest - albeit very distant - rival in the jockeys' championship.

It was a moment of great satisfaction for Johnson, who has missed much of the season with a broken leg.

However, the jockey was handed a four-day ban from the stewards for excessive use of the whip.

Stewards' enquiry

McCoy's misfortune provided joy for others - Russ Garritty (on Hussard Collonges) and Rodi Greene (on 25-1 shot Ilnamar) both registered their first wins at the Festival.

Even Flat jockey Jamie Spencer got in on the act, surviving a stewards' enquiry to win the bumper on Pizarro.

At least McCoy is at the Festival - fellow jockey Adrian Maguire was not so lucky, having broken a bone in his neck at the weekend.

But there was some cheer for the Maguire family when nephew Jason won his first race at the Festival with Galileo in the Royal and Sunalliance Novices' Hurdle.

Galileo - a Polish-bred not to be confused with the dual Derby-winning Flat horse - was also a first Festival winner for local trainer Tom George.

"This is the sort of day everybody dreams about," George said.

Everybody that is except Tony McCoy, who may be having nightmares for some time yet.