The Sean Doyle trained Premier D'troice justified favouritism as he got a deserved win to his name in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

A winner of a point-to-point at Loughrea in May, the French bred son of Great Pretender was placed on his last two starts at Downpatrick and Clonmel respectively.

Sent off the 7/2 market leader this afternoon (from 9/2), the bay five-year-old was never far off the pace under Liam Quinlan and improved to lead approaching five out.

He was pressed on the approach to the last by recent Clonmel winner Burlesque Queen but pulled out more under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by three and three parts of a length.

The aforementioned Burlesque Queen (5/1) had to settle for second under James O'Sullivan for Liz Doyle, while Blue Empyrean (12/1) was a further three and a half lengths back in third.

"He's been knocking on the door and that was a very winnable race I thought," said Sean Doyle.

"He did it better than I thought and Liam said he had plenty left and every time someone was getting to him he pulled out plenty.

"I think the big track suited him well. He ran well in Downpatrick and Clonmel but I think the more galloping track suited.

"He'll get three miles and he'll jump a fence so we should have a few more days out of this lad.

"He won't go on real winter ground but anything a little bit worse than that ground today and he'd be grand.

"He won a point-to-point and was unlucky not to win another one so he'll be a lovely horse for a fence."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson