First runner for McNamara

Former jockey Andrew McNamara is excited at embarking on his new career as a trainer at Navan on Sunday. He saddles Val De Ferbet in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle. The French-bred seven-year-old won a Grade 2 novice chase for Willie Mullins last season but was pulled up in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil on his final start for the champion trainer.