Meath trainer Dermot McLoughlin continued his fine season at his local track Fairyhouse on Sunday when Dromore Lad ran out a game winner of the Fairyhouse Members 2018 Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding was given an excellent ride from 7lb-claiming jockey Danny Hand, who proved strong in the finish to dispel the challenge of Fitzhenry ridden by none other than Barry Geraghty in the J.P. McManus silks.

Dromore Lad has improved massively since coming under the care of McLoughlin and was making it four wins from five runs this term, with three of the wins coming at Fairyhouse.

He has received another 8lb penalty off the handicapper for the win, but in his current vein of form he will be a force to be reckoned with at the upcoming spring festivals.

The son of Flemensfirth gave McLoughlin his 11th winner of the season which already equals his best effort from the 2015/16 campaign. The Ratoath-based handler is best known for training 13-year-old Vics Canvas to finish third in the 2016 Aintree Grand National.

The main event on Sunday’s Fairyhouse card went to Gordon Elliott who continued his good run of form at the track by taking the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase with Doctor Phoenix.

The 10-year-old, priced at 13/2, was ridden confidently by Davy Russell and held too much guns for John Ryan’s admirable 11-year-old Kilcarry Bridge, with Paul Nolan’s Dysios in third.

The son of Dr Massini again advertised his trainer’s talents for improving horses.

He was bought for just £10,000 out of the Goffs UK Horses-In-Training Sale by Elliott and Aidan ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan at the end of last season and has already earned just short of €75,000 in prize money, winning twice from just three runs.