WILLIE Mullins hit the mark three times for owner J.P McManus at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.

Zenta got the ball rolling for the pair in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase when bouncing back to winning ways.

The Grade 1 winning hurdler had been pulled up when last seen in action at Cork in December.

She went to post a 3/1 shot and came with a strong run to lead at the last under Mark Walsh, going on to score by two and a half lengths.

It was a clean sweep in the race for Mullins with Karia Des Blaises chasing her home and Paggane back in third.

Racing manager Frank Berry said afterwards: “It’s nice to see her back in a bit of form. She had a rough old year last year and lost her way completely.

“She jumped quite well and didn’t mind the ground, you’d be happy with that. She put her head down in the last half furlong.

“We’ll find a little handicap or mares’ race somewhere for her.”

Paul Townend took the mount on Sa Majeste, who got the job done at 11/10 in the three-mile rated chase.

Blunder

The Top Trip gelding looked booked for second going to the last but a blunder by Affordale Fury gave him a chance and he led again on the run-in to post a three-parts-of-a-length win.

It looked like we had a bit of luck on our side. He jumped away grand and we’ll see where he goes from here,” said Berry.

“He got well outclassed in the (Grade 1) race at Limerick and was in calmer waters today. It’s nice to get him back winning.

“He handles that ground very well and we’ll look at some of those staying chases with him.”

The hat-trick was completed in the Treo Eile Supporting Mares Maiden Hurdle when Karoline Banbou justified her short price.

Ease down

She was left clear by the fall of Swing Davis two from home and Mark Walsh could afford to ease down the 4/9 shot late on for a two-and-a-quarter length win over stablemate Place De La Nation.

“That was grand. She jumped well and you could only be pleased with the way she did it. She handled the ground well,” said Berry.

“She got a bit tired from the last home in Naas first time and something nabbed her. The experience didn’t go astray.

“It was a grand race to get for her and Mark was pleased with her. We’ll see where we end up and see what Willie thinks. She’s going the right way.”

Donoghue at the double

KEITH Donoghue is on course for his best ever season and partnered a double on the card.

Philip Dempsey provided the first winner when Quornofamonday landed the two-mile-five handicap chase for the L S M Syndicate.

The Libertarian gelding travelled well to lead after the second last and went on to post a cosy length-and-a-quarter success at odds of 9/1.

He was bouncing back after a fall last time and Dempsey said: “He was running well in Down Royal the last day but just made a mistake at a crucial stage.

“The third last and second last were taken out and he missed the fourth last and it took him forever to get going.

“It was grand today. He jumped well and it was a nice performance. We might drop him back in trip, he jumps well and travels well. We’ll see what the handicapper does with him.”

Donoghue teamed up with boss Gavin Cromwell later on the card when Mickie Angel ran out a decisive winner of the first division of the two-miles, three furlongs handicap hurdle.

The 2/1 joint-favourite led before the last to post a four-and-a-quarter length win for owner Robert Hennelly.

Cromwell said: “He loved that ground. I thought I’d have won with him before now.

“I got it wrong the last day, we rode him too positively and he was too keen.

“In or around that trip is ideal for him. He looks like a horse that will jump a fence, a big staying horse.”

Well-backed

The second division was won by the well-backed Chosen Diamond, who was supported from 16/1 into 9/2.

Eddie Cawley’s charge had to dig deep for Philip Byrnes to get the better of Kingkong Ciergues late on after a good battle on the run-in.

“We’re a long time trying to get his head in front over hurdles. He’s not a baby at this stage,” said Cawley.

“I was saying if he wasn’t in the frame here today, we’d just go back chasing as we might have some chance.

“He’s a horse that works well and has disappointed us a few days. There is no plan but we’ll find something for him.”

GOOD To Be Alive sprang a slight surprise in the four-year-old maiden hurdle when winning on his debut for Gordon Elliott.

The Shirocco gelding, owned by Bective Stud, was an easy-to-back 9/1 shot in the two-miler.

He was delivered to lead over the last, by Sam Ewing, and pulled clear late on for a six-length success.

Elliott said: “He’s a home-bred. We thought he was a bit weak and he’d probably come on a bit from the run today but it was nice to win.

“We’ll have to try and find a novice hurdle for him somewhere. He’s a horse that’s improving. It’s not ideal winning a maiden hurdle at this time of the year but it’s still not a bad complaint.”

Good future

Collaborative also looks to have a future ahead of him after his follow-up win in the rated novice hurdle.

Oliver McKiernan’s charge was also easy-to-back but the 10/1 shot led after the second last to post a length-success over Puturhandstogether.

Winning rider Enright said: “He stuck at it well. We went a good gallop and the ground is tough.

“He had form over two and a half the last day (at Navan) and I was hoping he’d get the trip well today over two miles.

“He’s improved from run to run this year and hopefully he can keep improving. He has plenty of size and scope to jump a fence down the line.”