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It was a day to forget for Paul Townend who dashed to Sandown Park to ride Kitzbuhel, only for the favourite to make an early exit.

The top jockey had caught a last minute flight from Ireland to London Heathrow after day one of the Dublin Racing Festival was abandoned.

He flew over with weighing room colleague Jack Kennedy, who was expected to be his main challenger on Kala Conti in the Grade One Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown Park, which is 20 miles from the airport.

But the Irish raiders were foiled by the Fergal O'Brien-saddled and Andrew Megson-owned Sixmilebridge, who made all of the running for Kielan Woods.

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The 6-1 chance's task was made easier when Kitzbuhel, the 10-11 favourite, started to jump to his right and got in a tangle at the sixth fence, giving Townend no chance of staying on.

"He just checked," said Racing TV pundit James Millman. "He kept jumping slightly right-handed prior to that obstacle, he wasn't quite fluent.

"At Kempton (where he won the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase) he has always got a rail on his right-hand side which has helped keep him straighter. Today he has clipped the top and unfortunately dislodged Paul Townend, who will wish he hadn't really taken that flight to London Heathrow."

Townend and his grey mount, trained by Willie Mullins, were up on their feet after the incident.

At the finish, Sixmilebridge kept up the gallop for Woods to add to victories at Ayr and Cheltenham - and remain unbeaten for the season by five lengths.

Owner Megson said: “That was incredible. It was a fantastic ride and Fergal has done an amazing job to get Sixmilebridge to this level. We all thought he was nice, but to have him win our first Grade One we just can’t believe it.

“We are staying local as we drove down from Leeds this morning. We were going to get up early and drive back early, but maybe not so much now!"

Sixmilebridge is 20-1 (from 25-1) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

O’Brien said: ”All credit to Max Kendrick who rides this horse everyday. He is not easy.

"I think today was phenomenal. It was lovely to watch as I felt he was going so well. I could see his ears were pricked and I could see Kielan was very confident."