Cascavelle gives McNamara his first festival win

Robbie McNamara lit up day two at Ballybrit when returning to a hero's welcome after Cascavelle made all en route to a game half-length triumph on his debut for the fledgling Curragh stable.

Having been acquired by the former top-class amateur rider for €30,000 out of Dermot Weld's stable in the autumn, the irony wasn't lost on many that Billy Lee's mount had secured McNamara with a first win at the Galway festival in his new guise.

Weld, who provided McNamara with so many high-profile winners as a rider, has so far failed to get off the mark at meeting that he owned for so long.

"I was hoping beforehand that he didn't think he was still trained by DK," McNamara joked of the Shamardal colt afterwards.

"I had plenty of success here as a jockey so hopefully it will be the first of many as a trainer, and I'll remember this."

Riven surges clear in BMW

Willie Mullins took the feature event for a second night in a row when Riven Light ran out a decisive winner of the Colm Quinn BMW Mile, although he did have to survive a stewards' inquiry.

Well backed into 7-2 favouritism, the hitherto frustrating hurdler may have found a new vocation for himself after securing the prestigious €120,000 handicap under Declan McDonogh.

"I never like to second guess my father, but he might stick with what he is good at now," the trainer's son Patrick said. "Maybe he wasn't getting home over hurdles."

McDonogh, who won the race on Eklim in 2003, Vastonea in 2012 and Creggs Pipes in 2016, weaved his way through from the rear.

The inquiry was prompted by his final, decisive manoeuvre that saw the retreating Marshall Jennings impeded, a move that cost the jockey a four-day ban for careless riding, but not the race.

"That was a superb ride from Declan," Mullins added. "Ruby Walsh advised him to get there late and ride him for luck, and he has pulled it off perfectly. It was a fantastic ride."

Wisdom prevails

Henry De Bromhead did his best to deflect the praise for Three Wise Men's belated first success over fences after his seven-year-old made all to see off the favourite Bamako Moriviere in decisive fashion.

The Waterford handler credited the winner's owner Michael Mee with the decision to run here, and he also then revealed that Noel Fehily had improvised in letting his mount stride on.

"Noel gave him a super ride, and he did exactly the opposite to what we had discussed in the parade ring," De Bromhead said. "But it was brilliant. The horse was loving it out in front so it was the right thing to do – win, lose or draw."

Joe Murphy knows a good filly when he gets one and after Shekiba caused a minor upset in what looked a hot fillies' maiden, he indicated that his daughter of Arcano would next tackle the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh on August 20.

Thought for the day

It's easy be wise after the event but more heed should have been paid to Noel Fehily's decision to fly in to partner Three Wise Kings. It was his only booking of the week and he certainly made it count with an inspired turn from the front.

Results and analysis