Autumn Winter defies long absence to land Thurles spoils 

Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan were also successful courtesy of Mint Candy

GETTING ON TOP: Autumn Winter and Wayne Lordan, centre, win the Killinan Handicap from Dark Oak, left. Picture: Healy Racing

Unraced since finishing seventh in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot in June, Autumn Winter opened his account when defying top-weight in the Killinan 3-Y-0 Handicap, second leg of a double for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan, in Thurles.

The 4-6 favourite swept past front-running Dark Oak to score by a length and a half, with the unlucky Messerschmitt a close third.