CLASSIC winner Jet Setting returned to winning ways at Tipperary on Sunday landing the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes on a day when champion trainer and jockey Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh completed a graded treble at the venue.

Europe’s biggest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, took centre stage in Chantilly but racegoers at Tipperary were treated to the presence of Jet Setting, who was winning for the first time since a famous Irish 1000 Guineas triumph in May.

The daughter of Fast Company was reunited with her classic-winning jockey Shane Foley and, in the end, proved great value for her 7/4 starting price when streaking clear for a six and a half lengths win over Joailliere.

Trainer Adrian Keatley has excelled in his handling of Jet Setting: “She just loves the ground - there’s just no getting away from it - and also loves that trip.

“We’ll sit down with the owners at Newmarket (sales) and make a plan, but wherever it is bottomless she’ll turn up between now and the end of the year.

“There’s a couple of Group 3s in France and a couple of listed races but if it turned up bottomless on Champions Day at Ascot she could run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

“There’s no decision made on next year but they’re talking about going to stud with her. However, I was saying to Shane (Foley) if there was going to be good prizes next spring in ground like that, that I’d prefer to have her racing.”

National Hunt fans were also well catered for on the eight-race card with Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh beginning their successful afternoon with a win in the Grade 2 Istabraq Hurdle with Ivan Grozny (2/5 favourite), who made all to win for owners Andrea and Graham Wylie.

Ivan Grozny raced keenly almost throughout and, in the end, scored a four and three-quarter-length win over Bentelimar.

Mullins wasn’t present, but Walsh commented: “He just ran away with me and kept going! He was a bit fresher today and hasn’t run in a while. The ground gets softer and it gets harder as you’re trying to go slower but he jumped super and had enough in the tank to keep going.”

Mullins and Walsh landed the next Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle with Penhill (1/1 favourite, for owner Anthony Bloom), who overcame two early jumping errors to eventually score by four and a half lengths from Balzac Turgot.

Walsh said: “He is a fair horse but doesn’t jump the Easyfix hurdles quite as well as he does the timber hurdles. He was quite deliberate over the first two but got better as he went on.

“It’s as soft as he (Mullins) has run him on but the same as Listowel, he’s gone and won on it so you can’t really stop can you? Other than Killarney (when he burst a blood vessel) he has done everything right. He never did it before or since and we’ve no idea why he did it.

“He keeps improving though and I imagine he’ll keep going until he tells us otherwise.”

An hour later the remarkable mare Westerner Lady competed her six-timer for Mullins, Walsh and owner Anthony Butler in the Grade 3 Like A Butterfly Novice Chase.

The race featured the chasing debut of smart hurdler Alpha Des Obeaux but Walsh’s mount had plenty of experience on her side, which helped her beat off runner-up Deans Road.

Alpha Des Obeaux made mistakes in-running and, while well held in fifth, closed on the leaders on the run-in, suggesting more can be expected next time.

Walsh was delighted with the performance of Westerner Lady: “She jumps super but she had experience and fitness on her side. She is also versatile trip-wise, in fairness to her.”

Cradle Mountain was a fitting winner on the card in the Woodlands Hotel Adare Handicap Hurdle for trainer Joseph O’Brien, whose father, Aidan, had earlier landed a clean sweep of the placings for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Cradle Mountain (7/1), owned by J.P. McManus, flew home for a length win over Ballyadam Brook.

Joseph O’Brien commented: “He knows plenty about the game and never travels or jumps but has plenty of ability. He’ll go for something similar again.”

The final National Hunt race was the concluding Kenyon St Traders (Pro/Am) Flat Race, won by the Margaret Flynn-trained Dr Mikey (6/1), readily under jockey Declan Queally.

A delighted Flynn said: “I was a little afraid of the ground but he had been waltzing around the place at home with his chest out recently so I had to run him! He’s better on good ground though and won’t go on winter ground.

“He is seven but was a very free and highly strung horse and took time. I’ve learned how to train him and Declan (Queally) has learned how to ride him and rides him at his own pace.

“I’ll look for a maiden hurdle next and I’ll look for a big galloping track.”

The winner is owned by the Santry Power Walsh Syndicate and he is a half-brother to The Knoxs, who won six times on the track.

head win

Racing began with the Athassel House Stud EBF Maiden, which was won by the Martin Hassett-trained Three Jacks, under jockey Wayne Lordan.

The winner held on for a head win over Feathery and Hassett said: “The biggest surprise was the price (13/2) and if he was running under the Ballydoyle banner he’d have been money-on. His run at the Curragh has turned out to be a serious maiden.

“We haven’t discussed if he is for sale yet as he has been a fun horse but that’s him finished for the year and we’ll have to supplement him for some of those bigger races next year. Edmond (Ryan) bought him and owns him along with his wife Grainne and my wife Deirdre.”

The Willie McCreery-trained Downforce gained some compensation following an unlucky in-running effort at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend when winning the thetote.ie Handicap, under jockey Bill Lee.

McCreery said: “The last day he was very unlucky when he was shuttled back to last but flew home. He got there too soon today and travelled so well.

“He loves that ground and obviously it is a Fast Company thing as the filly (Jet Setting) won the previous race. He moves like it is good ground and the rest seem to be struggling.

“We’ll see about maybe one more run. His owner Donal (Finnan) is over for a few weeks so said we’d run him twice. He’s originally from Kilcock but is now living in New York.

Acting Stewards

P. McLernon, J O’Shaughnessy, M.J. Doyle, Mrs F. Ward, P.W. Murtagh.

Horse To Follow

ALPHA DES OBEAUX (M.F. Morris) He made some mistakes on his chase debut but did show enough late on to suggest he should win his beginners’ chase next time out.