WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend combined for a treble at Fairyhouse on Saturday, headed by impressive wins for Concertista and Monkfish.

Concertista boosted her claims for a third successive appearance at the Cheltenham Festival with a cheeky victory in the Grade 2 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle.

Narrowly beaten in the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2019, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old went one better last season.

She did her prospects for the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle in March no harm with an eye-catching performance on her seasonal debut.

Carrigeen Lotus set the pace in Saturday's contest, with Minella Melody in second place and Concertista a close fourth of the six runners.

There was little change in the order until the penultimate flight where Minella Melody went on, but Paul Townend was aware of the move and brought Concertista to challenge at the last.

The 6/4 favourite toyed with her market rival on the run-in before being allowed to go on in the closing stages and score by a length and three-quarters to complete a double for Mullins and Townend after Monkfish’s win in the beginners’ chase.

The first two pulled 14 lengths clear of Queens Book in third.

Mullins said: “That trip wasn’t any problem to her. We’ll probably look for something at Christmas and whether it’s a mares’ race or she takes on the boys, I’m not sure.”

IMPRESSIVE START

Monkfish made an impressive start over fences as he strolled to victory in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Beginners Chase.

Winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Willie Mullins’ charge was sent off the 1/3 favourite to make a winning debut in chase company.

Paul Townend had him settled in third as Sams Profile set the early gallop, with Monkfish travelling and jumping well throughout before moving to the front with a couple of fences to go.

Monkfish just had to be kept up to his work by Townend, with stablemate Ontheropes trying his best to make a race of it, but he was ultimately well held in finishing a four-length second, with Sams Profile a further seven and a half lengths back in third.