Pat Smullen's hopes of regaining the Flat jockeys championship were dealt a blow when he was given a ten days suspension for appearing to elbow Colm O'Donoghue in the six furlongs handicap.
The former dual champion, riding fifth placed Miss Isabela, could be seen swinging his right elbow at O'Donoghue on Tubbertown Rose inside the final furlong as the two horses came close together.
The stewards found him guilty of improper riding and the ten racing days ban, which includes the 'Arc' weekend, will begin on September 29 and leave him out of domestic action until October 22.
Smullen had earlier recorded his 65th winner of the season as Kempes put his experience to good use when gaining a narrow victory over newcomer Disclosure in the juvenile auction maiden.
The well-backed 6/4 favourite, trained by his wife Frances Crowley, bravely rallied under pressure when strongly pressed in the straight to just prevail by a head.
This victory leaves him seven clear of the sidelined Fran Berry in the title race, and more significantly 13 ahead of third placed Kieren Fallon.
Don't Be Bitin overcame a five months break to land the featured Lartigue Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
The Eoin Griffin-trained gelding led four out but needed to dig deep from two out to shrug off the challenge of Cellarmaster by a length.
'Ruby said he wasn't doing a whole lot when he hit the front. He was carrying a bit of condition but was as fit as we could get him at home,' said Griffin.
'Hopefully there is another decent handicap in him, and he needs a strongly run two miles or even a bit further,' he added.
Tom Hogan sent out his 16th Flat winner this season when Tiffany Gardens quickened up inside the final furlong for Wayne Lordan to beat Nathan Jones by 3L in the controversial six furlongs handicap.
The Desert Sun filly appreciated an ease in the ground and may bid for a quick follow-up here later in the week in a similar race.
Lordan was replacing Robbie Burke, whose father Paddy is seriously ill, and he missed out on another winner as Declan McDonogh took over aboard Skerries in the valuable fillies handicap.
The four-year-old filly was up with the pace throughout and just held off the challenge of Peineve to reward trainer Harry Rogers' five and a half hours drive down in the horse-box from Ardee.
Boolakraken swooped late under Paul Flynn to land the concluding maiden hurdle.
Alan Magee
