Robbie McNamara has enjoyed plenty of success at the Galway Festival, but yesterday was a red-letter day for the Newbridge, Co Kildare-based trainer as Cascavelle gave him a first winner on the Flat and first at this meeting in his guise as a trainer.

The opening day of the 2017 Galway Festival was a stern reminder of the meeting’s all too familiar dismissive treatment of punters, but amongst the torment remains the potential for a fairy-tale, and it transpired in the feature race, the Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders’ Handicap.

"Having been off for the last three months, it's great to get the all clear, especially with Galway just around the corner."

Dermot Weld was the Galway Festival’s top trainer for the 29th time in the last 30 years. He had five winners, while Willie Mullins trained eight winners and Tony Martin saddled six.

Baraweez landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Ahonoora” Handicap for the second successive year as British raiders dominated the feature event on the final day of the Galway Festival yesterday.

Hint Of A Tint gave trainer David Wachman another big-race winner with victory in the Topaz Mile Handicap at Galway.

Having made such a good impression on his return, in a maiden hurdle at Sligo recently, Long Dog should take a world of beating in the opening Topaz Novice Hurdle on day two of the Galway Festival.

After a game and well-deserved success in last night’s feature, the Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders’ Handicap, the Jessica Harrington-trained Modem will bid to emulate Athy Spirit (1990) and Try A Brandy (1988) by adding Thursday’s Galway Hurdle to his spoils.

“I always dreamt one day I would win this race but I can’t believe it’s happened.”

With the Galway Festival getting underway on Monday, there is just one meeting in Ireland this weekend and, unsurprisingly, it’s modest fare which should urge similar scale investment from punters.

Trainer Mick Winters believes Rebel Fitz could “surprise a few people” if turning out in one of the major events at next week’s Galway Festival.

Miracle jockey Brian Toomey is set to be in action at next week’s Galway Festival after trainer Phil Kirby confirmed Kings Grey an intended runner at Ballybrit.

Easily the most interesting horse to turn up over the four days at Killarney this week was Dermot Weld’s Silver Concorde.