The winter season in Thurles swung into gear yesterday and there was a familiar feel to proceedings.

Ahead of an important couple of days in Down Royal, when some of the stable’s leading lights will make their first starts of the season, trainer Gordon Elliott completed a near 6-1 double on a cold Thursday afternoon in Thurles.

Couleur France, the clear form horse on his second to the smart Sheamus at Fairyhouse, easily won the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle at the rainswept Tipperary track yesterday.