Champion Trainer Willie Mullins and stand-in stable jockey Paul Townend bagged hat-tricks at Sligo today as Causey Arch was the pair's third winner in the Kennedy's Bar Sligo Rated Novice Hurdle.

The five year old son of Jeremy was short of room approaching the second last flight but arrived full of running to lead on the run-in and score a cheeky length and a quarter success under an almost motionless Townend.

Townend earlier steered Mullins' Salsaretta (1/12f) and Msassa (1/10f) to win the opening races and following his third winner reported “he did it nicely and jumped much better today.

“He loved the ground and his Flat form showed he had loads of boot. He just got a fright early the last day and that put paid to his run.

“He made a couple of bad mistakes early last time but he jumped much better today. I'd say the smaller field suited him as well.”

Causey Arch's 5/1 success brought 'respectability' to the payout for the Mullins/Townend treble which now returns E71.50 for a E10 bet, having earlier returned just E11.92 for a E10 double from long odds-on winners Salsaretta (1/12f) and Msassa (1/10f).

Quotes from Gary Carson