< Simenon showed his liking for a drop down in class as he sauntered away with the Friday Evening Racing Hurdle at Cork for Willie Mullins.

Third to Alderwood in the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last time, the five-year-old was sent off the 9-10 favourite and travelled in second for most of the way as Dazzling Susie took them along.

Ruby Walsh sent him on approaching the third-last and it was easy thereafter as Simenon coasted in by 15 lengths from the long-time leader, with nothing emerging from the chasing pack to give his supporters a moment's worry.

Walsh initiated a double in the corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle on Charlie Swan's Roman Flight (100-30), who looked set for an easy victory but wandered about after hitting the front and had to be kept up to his work to score by three lengths.

The Oliver McKiernan-trained Whatever Jacksays (9-1) continued his rapid rise up the ranks with a commanding victory in the Niall McCarthy Memorial Handicap Hurdle despite a 22lb hike in the ratings for his previous win.

The seven-year-old was given an aggressive ride by Robbie Colgan, leading all the way and running the speed out of the opposition over the last three flights to score by 14 lengths.

Jessie Harrington's Beachdale Lad (9-4 favourite) was another to be in front just about all the way, landing the Friday July 13th BBQ Maiden Hurdle after Tommy Treacy slipped him into a decisive lead on the bend for home.

He went clear in the straight to score by three and three-quarter lengths after the last flight was missed following an incident early on when Andrew Lynch suffered a heavy fall on Flemingo Domingo

Ivor Kingston's grey Iron Duke sprung a 33-1 surprise as he led all the way and stayed on with great resolution under Gavin Sheehan to take the Corkracecourse On Twitter Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half.