Dermot’s star is on the rise

THE steady improver Dromore Lad could be the one to side with in the www. corkracecourse. iehandicap Hurdle which heads today’s domestic action.

A case could be made for a number of the runners in this two and a half mile affair and one of those is Dromore Lad who has been a fine advertisement for the talents of trainer Dermot Mcloughlin.

This seven-year-old reeled off three victories in succession this time last year before his winning run came to an end at Punchestown in February.

However, he looked as good as ever on his return to action in a valuable handicap hurdle at Navan a few weeks ago when he was a close third to Salty Boy.

Today’s race doesn’t look as strong as that €50,000 contest at Navan and Dromore Lad is sure to have improved for his first run since February.

Among his biggest dangers is

who has run with credit on all his starts since joining Gordon Elliott.

This gelding seems effective from two miles all the way up to three miles so this intermediate distance will be no problem for him.

Also his form received a boost last week when Castlebawn West, whom he beat in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel, won a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Willie Mullins, right, looks to have several strong chances on the card and he is taken to land both of the maiden hurdles on offer.

The champion trainer’s first winner can come courtesy of the French import in the two mile maiden.

This gelding was a useful and consistent handicapper in France when he won twice over a mile and a half and finished out of the frame just three times in 11 starts.

This race doesn’t appear to contain much strength in depth so this five-yearold should be able to deal with fellow flat recruit

In the three mile maiden hurdle the Mullins-trained looks the obvious selection based on his form last season. He won at Thurles either side of runner-up finishes at Fairyhouse and Limerick and he makes more appeal than the disappointing

was a costly failure at Punchestown last time but he was found to be blowing hard post race and clearly didn’t give his running that day.

If he can return to the form of his first two outings he would surely have the measure of