The Storyteller claimed victory in a dramatic renewal of the Growise Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown.
A field of 11 went to post for the three-mile Grade One, with title-chasing trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott saddling three and five runners respectively.
Mullins looked in a strong position rounding the home turn, with Invitation Only and Al Boum Photo both in contention either side of Henry de Bromhead's 2-1 favourite Monalee.
However, few could have envisaged what would happen next.
Monalee took a crashing fall two fences from home, badly hampering Invitation Only, who unshipped David Mullins.
That incident left Al Boum Photo in command before jockey Paul Townend tried to manoeuvre his mount across the track, and in doing so ended up taking both himself and Finian's Oscar out of the race.
The Storyteller, who won a handicap at last month's Cheltenham Festival, was left in front in the hands of Davy Russell and galloped on to lead home a one-two-three for Elliott, with Monbeg Notorious and Jury Duty finishing second and third respectively.
Elliott said: "I don't what happened. We got a bit of luck on our side and we needed it with the way the day started off.
"I don't know what happened to Paul Townend, it all happened that quick. I was standing at the last and when I saw Paul going I wasn't sure if it had been bypassed.
"It worked out great for me so I can't complain. He's won a Grade One now and won at Cheltenham."
Townend was later banned for 21 days for dangerous riding, a punishment that will begin in two weeks' time.
Draconien got Willie Mullins off to a flying start at this year's Festival after springing a surprise in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
The reigning champion trainer has significant ground to make up on rival Gordon Elliott in this year's title race, but reduced the deficit in the first Grade One contest of the week.
Mullins fielded four of the 10 runners and it was his 11-10 favourite Getabird who cut out much of the running in the hands Paul Townend.
However, he was a spent force from the home turn and was first claimed by Colin Tizzard's British challenger Vision Des Flos, before 25-1 shot Draconien came through under a confident Noel Fehily to claim victory by two and a quarter lengths.
Vision Des Flos was a clear second, with Elliott's Mengli Khan best of the rest in third.
A thrilling finish to the Champion Novice Hurdle at the #PunchestownFestival https://t.co/if3PzbykLZ pic.twitter.com/i0fQt5CMqH
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 24, 2018
Mullins said: "It looked like there was too much pace up the front for Getabird and everyone took him on up. They've all paid the penalty and Draconien came through.
"Noel got off him in Fairyhouse and said he wanted to ride him differently and on better ground and that's exactly what happened today.
"There was so much pace today, there was no pace in Fairyhouse, and that played into his hands and he jumped fantastic as well."
True Self (12-1) showed a smart turn of foot under Rachael Blackmore to win the valuable Killashee Handicap Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare shot clear turning into the straight and despite slowing up heading to the last, soon regained momentum to beat Joey Sasa.
Mullins said: "She's a good mare and Rachael was saying the ground made a big difference. She was a very very well bought mare. She was very cheap.
"Rachael is a good jockey, she's not a lady jockey, she's a good jockey."
The owner of Bumper winner Commander OF Fleet Michael O'Leary is quick to correct @TomsTips on the right way to pronounce Gigginstown! #PunchestownFestival https://t.co/3qP47H9Tlr pic.twitter.com/1oewX0n7IU
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 24, 2018
Mullins' title rival Gordon Elliott struck back as Commander Of Fleet dominated his rivals in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned point-to-point winner was a 5-1 shot for his rules debut and after being ridden prominently from the off by Barry O'Neill, he streaked clear in the home straight for a wide-margin victory.
Column Of Fire and Santana Plessis finished second and third respectively to give Elliott a one-two-three.
Pat Fahy's Kalum River lunged late to land the concluding Dooley Insurances Flat Race under Patrick Mullins.
Barrington Court, runner-up on her previous two starts for Jessica and Kate Harrington, looked set to make it third time lucky when pulling clear in the straight.
But 16-1 shot Kalum River responded to his rider's urgings and got up late in the day to complete a memorable day for his rider, who steered Un De Sceaux to victory in the BoyleSports Champion Chase earlier in the afternoon.
Just Wait And See gamely held off Blue Templar to win the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup, the first race of the 2018 Festival.
Ridden by Billy Gleeson and trained by his father, John, the victorious 16-1 chance hit the front inside the final half a mile.
But Derek O'Connor conjured up a late rally from Blue Templar, having been under pressure from some way out, and only went down by a head in a thrilling finish.
John Gleeson said: "I only have a handful of horses to keep an interest in the game. This has given me the biggest buzz I've ever had in my life."
Billy Gleeson said: "We've had the horse since he was four.
"He's a real fun horse - a very clever jumper - and God knows how many fences he's jumped in his life."
Follow the Punchestown Festival via our live blog on RTÉ.ie and the News Now App, or watch Robert Hall and Ted Walsh present live coverage on RTÉ2 from 4pm
