'Paul said she just enjoyed her jumping and galloping' - Allegorie De Vassy right back to her best in Grade 3 feature

New year, new slate. The last week of 2024 may not have been a stellar one for Closutton but the dominant force could not have been more quickly out of the blocks for 2025 as Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combined for a short-priced four-timer at Fairyhouse, adding to a stable double at Tramore.

The most pleasing performance came in the feature Grade 3 mares' chase, when the mercurial Allegorie De Vassy came back to her best for a comprehensive success.

Townend bounced her out in front and her ability to jump and gallop meant none of her rivals got near her as she came home 25 lengths clear of Limerick Lace, one of the mares to beat her in last season's Mares' Chase at Cheltenham. Paddy Power cut her to 7-1 (from 20s) for this season's equivalent.

Mullins said: "She enjoyed being out in front today. Paul said she just enjoyed her jumping and galloping. Even with all the rain they had here yesterday, it's not deep winter ground and she enjoyed it. She put in some super jumps and we will look now at the Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas next month."

Champ back to winning ways

Champ Kiely, a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler two seasons ago, made his debut over fences a winning one in the 2m5½f beginners' chase, and put himself forward as potentially a leading novice chaser in the middle distance to staying division.

The nine-year-old had been absent since the 2023 Punchestown festival, and this was an impressive comeback. Setting out to make all under Townend, he jumped with real fluency throughout in scoring by 11 lengths and was cut to 16-1 (from 33s) for the 3m Brown Advisory at Cheltenham.

Champ Kiely: made a winning chasing debut at FairyhouseCredit: Lorraine O'Sullivan

The fear is that with no 2m4f Grade 1 novice chase at Cheltenham, he might be one of those horses to fall between two stools in terms of trip. It could be good news for the 2m4f Grade 1 WillowWarm Novice Chase here at Easter.

Mullins was understandably very pleased by this performance. He said: "He did everything as it should have been done; he galloped and jumped. Paul was very happy that he was far more relaxed over fences than he had been over hurdles, which will hopefully bring about more improvement. The two miles and five furlongs Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival is a race we will probably look it."

He added: "He could easily step up in trip now he's much more relaxed."

Early double

The opening two maiden hurdles set the foundation for the Mullins-Townend day. Having been found clinically abnormal on her previous run at Wexford in October, Aurora Vega made no mistake in the opening mares' maiden hurdle as she made all for a comfortable success.

It was much harder work for 4-11 favourite Sounds Victorius in the 2m4f maiden hurdle. He looked beaten when headed before the second-last, but found a second wind and showed the benefit of experience when coming back to beat promising runner-up Come Walk With Me by two and three-quarter lengths.

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