McNamara has first runners at Cork

Dual course winner Simenon returns to domestic action when he contests the Family Day Out August 1st Hurdle at Cork.

Simenon was having his first run since last October when contesting the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

In the circumstances that was a tough ask and, despite his excellent course record at Ascot, Simenon finished towards the rear behind the Gordon Elliott-trained winner, Commissioned.

Now a nine-year-old, the Marju gelding has been a great servant to Wicklow Bloodstock and Willie Mullins, but he was keen last time and weakened quickly from over a furlong out, having set the pace.

Ruby Walsh has his sole mount on the programme aboard Simenon, and this two-and-a-half-mile contest promises to be an informative heat with the upcoming Galway Festival in mind.

One of the participants, Shanpallas features prominently in ante-post lists for the tote.com Galway Plate, whilst Ballybrit was also mentioned as an objective for Gusty Rocky after his very convincing win at Gowran in June.

Other worthy contenders for the feature event of the evening are Simenon's stable companion Mckinley Rich Coast and Shadow Catcher Rich Coast has two course Flat wins to his name and he could be aided by the addition of a tongue-strap in this seven-runner event.

Robbie McNamara has a busy meeting on his first day with runners as a trainer. The former top amateur rider dispatches four from his Curragh base, and in-form 7Ib claimer Conor Brassil is aboard two of them, Chadic and Flush Or Bust

Another conditional, Ricky Doyle has been among the winners in recent times, and he's on Call Vinnie for McNamara in the Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.

Given that his long time boss Dermot Weld is such a strong supporter of racing at Cork, it is hardly surprising to see McNamara send a strong team south at an important time in his racing life. Rathcannon is the last of his runners in the Cork Racecourse August Summer Festival Flat Race. Finny Maguire will ride that one.