John Murphy saddled two in the fillies race, one of them, Amusing was runner-up whilst Silk Dress disappointed, but things brightened up for the Cork handler half-an-hour later when Dead Level won.
At least 13/2 was available in the morning about Mad Existence and her odds contracted from 9/2 into 7/2 on track. The first-time blinkered daughter of Val Royal (sire of Cockney Rebel) did the business.
In this opener, Silk Dress was put in at 4/7 in early trading, but easy-to-back in the ring, she was returned at evens. She was beaten 16L into 6th of the 7 and she was later found to be lame.
Mad Existence was hard to load under Chris Hayes and had to be driven along to soon track the leaders in 4th. She got to the front a furlong and a half out, battling off Amusing from there on by 1/2L.
Harry Rogers enjoying his 14th winner of the campaign (he had just 5 in 2006) said, 'I thought it was worth taking a chance with her here (she already has a handicap mark of 67).
'It didn't look a great race and obviously the favourite did not perform.' Silk Dress held a career high mark of 102 but she was down to 92 going into this event.
David Splaine, son of Robert, Chef d'equipe of the Irish Showjumping team, will never forget the 7yo chestnut mare, Dead Level after she provided him with his first success in the plate in the h'cap chase.
Splaine works for Dead Level's handler, John Murphy, 'a great friend of Robert' and he said of David, 'he gave the horse a smashing ride.'
He continued, 'I don't think this was a great race but she is tough and genuine.' David Splaine (19) from near Kinsale, spent last winter with Willie Mullins before returning to Murphy.
Harry Rogers, successful earlier with Mad Existence, was fancied by some to follow-up in the 6.55 with All In (10s in the morning into 5/1) but this one disappointed in a race that went to Foxy Gwynne.
Partnered by Fran Berry, the Pat Flynn-trained mare held off Damasque by the minimum margin. Flynn tongue-in-cheek afterwards said, 'she won't be going to Royal Ascot next week.
'Hopefully she'll win again though.' Her stable companion, Worldy Wise will be making the trip cross-channel, for the Wolverton H'cap on the Friday of the Festival.
Owner of Foxy Gwynne, Padraic Maloney, dedicated the win to the memory of Joe Flaherty, who had previously shared in ownership with him and who died suddenly earlier this year aged just 49.
Division two of this h'cap went in easy style to The Last Stand. Backed from 7/2 into 5/2, Rory Cleary led on the favourite 3f out and Tony Mullins' charge was soon clear, accounting for Like A Dream by 4L.
Offers of 8/13 early in the day were gratefully received about Khatiman for the 1m 2f conditions race. Returned 4/11, Khatiman got the job done under Declan McDonogh for Ken Condon.
Eddie Harty got off the mark this term (he had 6 in 2006) with Eight Up in the 1m 4f h'cap. This stoutly-bred Old Vic gelding appreciated the distance to see off El Cerro.
From the family of Galmoy, Direct Route and Youllneverwalkalone, the Colm O'Donoghue-ridden victor is owned by the Cole Family Syndicate which includes the trainer's wife Marie and her parents.
Harty said, 'it is nice to get off the mark and this fellow will probably be sold to go hurdling at some stage.'
Whispering Wind for Joanna Morgan and Andrew Duff took the bumper.
