Winter Lion s last appearance in public came in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham three weeks back. The Galileo gelding enjoyed the return to action on home shores when landing the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap under Wayne Lordan at Dundalk.

With blinkers on for the first time, the Matthew Smith-trained 11/1 shot soon tracked the leader in second.

He travelled well to lead entering straight and ridden over a furlong out, Winter Lion kept on strongly to beat the staying-on Venezia by a length and three parts.

"Wayne said he bounced off the surface and the blinkers also helped. He ran in a schooling race here a few weeks ago and loved it," revealed Smith.

"He's disappointed a couple of times over hurdles, and was in great form going to Cheltenham but for some reason it didn't work out. He doesn't like being crowded.

"There are not too many two-mile races here over the winter but we'll try and find something, and leave the hurdles until we get better ground next year."

(AM & EM)