Cairdiuil was only denied late for his local handler here at the Festival but there was a measure of compensation for the Iggy Madden-trained six-year-old when he 'ran away' with the Pascal Corrigan Memorial Handicap in the hands of Joseph O'Brien (now 4 ahead of Pat Smullen in the race to be champion jockey) at Galway.

The Jim Bolger-bred son of Bachelor Duke was looking good from some way out in this extended mile contest. O'Brien got a lovely split to lead on the inner from over two furlongs and the race was soon 'in the bag.'

Cairdiuil headed the betting at 3/1 and favourite backers were long since considering how they'd spend their winnings before he crossed the line seven lengths to the good from Daigreen

Madden said: "He likes Galway. It was kind of a messy race in Killarney (4th there) but he came out of it well and we expected him to go close today.

"I think it was more a case of the rest of them stopping and he kept galloping. Joseph didn't think he was that far in front."

Meanwhile O'Brien, bringing up a double after Eye Of The Storm in the first, remarked: "He likes soft ground. I think the rest of them just kind of stopped behind him and he likes that ground more than most."

A gamble on King Of Oriel (20s into 7s on course) went astray as Donal Kinsella's charge could only beat two home. (DM & EM)