WILLIE Mullins sent just three horses to Sligo for a well-attended National Hunt card, and the trio all returned to his Closutton base as winners to record a short-priced treble.

Edward O’Connell has enjoyed plenty of big race success over the past few seasons with Un De Sceaux, and the Cork owner will be hoping his light blue and orange silks gain further prominence with another French acquisition after Bachasson made a pleasing Irish debut in the Pet Stop Maiden Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh never had an anxious moment on the 4/11 favourite, leading after three out and cruising home in the straight to beat Free Scorpion by a facile six and a half lengths.

“His jumping was reasonable and he travelled nicely. His bumper form suggested he was up to winning a maiden, and he should improve from the run. I’d say he has a fair engine,” said Walsh.

The champion jockey was also on board another hot-pot as Long Dog, very lightly-raced since winning a flat maiden here in 2013 for Andy Oliver, readily landed odds of 2/7 in the GAA Race Day 18th August Maiden Hurdle.

Susannah Ricci’s gelding was left in front just beyond halfway, and took complete control in the straight to record a 12 lengths verdict.

“His jumping was a bit rusty early but he was professional on the second circuit. He could have followed (9/2 second favourite) After Rain when he ran wide (on the bend after the stands) but he switched inside,” commented Walsh before adding with a wry smile, “He could be alright!”

The Mullins treble was completed in the two miles and two furlongs bumper with yet another odds-on shot as Fugi Mountain (8/13), runner-up on debut at Leopardstown back in January and now owned by Marie Donnelly, asserted in the straight for Patrick Mullins to beat Bertie Bell by just over three lengths.

“He’s a half-brother to Blackstairmountain, and is quite a decent horse. He could go to Galway for a winners’ bumper or even a mile and a half maiden. He’s got plenty of speed, and we have been lucky with that family bred by my mother,” said Patrick Mullins.

Local trainer Mark McNiff also enjoyed a real red-letter day when saddling a 48/1 plus double with Urban Dusk and Mr Mulliner.

Urban Dusk (8/1) landed a nice morning price gamble, having been available at 20/1, in the Ladies Day At Sligo 6th August Handicap Hurdle to the delight of the 25-strong Sligo Racing Club, the majority of whom were on hand to give former pony racing champion Jack Kennedy a raucous welcome back into the winners’ enclosure aboard the six-year-old Golan mare. She responded gamely under pressure to head top-weight Captains And Kings on the run-in for a two-length verdict.

McNiff, who gallops his horses nearby on the beach at Strandhill, doubled up when Mr Mulliner came from an unlikely position and stormed home on the run-in for Conor Maxwell to pip Holeinthewall Bar by three-quarters of a length in the Guinness Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Maxwell said: “He’s quirky. He was going nowhere heading out on the last circuit but the more horses he passed the more he kept going. Every horse he passed the more he battled, and I started to believe he’d win going to the last.”

Jack Kennedy can do little wrong at present and the 16-year-old recorded his third double, and made it 14 winners under both codes since his initial success as a professional just over seven weeks ago, as Miss Dinamic was another convincing odds-on winner in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle. Charles Flattery’s homebred had her task greatly eased by the absence of Wexford maiden winner For Gortnatona (coughing), and the 2/5 favourite stretched clear of her four rivals in the straight to score by six and a half lengths.

In-form trainer Gordon Elliott said: “I think she’ll stay further and may go to England for another novice hurdle and then go chasing straight away.”

Borrisokane owner/trainer Jimmy Finn has Galway in mind next for Coldstonesober after the gallant eight-year-old defied top-weight in the Students Day 30th September Handicap Hurdle.

Kevin Sexton’s mount was prominent throughout, and the 11/2 chance held on well on the run-in to beat Ellie Mia by a length and a half.

“He’s some servant. That’s six he’s won now and eight seconds,” said Finn. He added: “I was a bit worried about the rain (18mm since declaration time) but the stiff finish suited.

“We’ll find a race for him in Galway. If it’s good early in the week he’ll run in a hurdle race or else he could wait for the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase (2m2f) on the Sunday.”