WILLIE Mullins started the New Year in dominant fashion, with a four-timer at Fairyhouse among six winners on the day for the champion trainer.

Allegorie De Vassy was the star of the show at the County Meath venue, when running out a facile winner of the featured YellowFord John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase.

Paul Townend made all on the well-supported 5/4 favourite and Rich Ricci’s mare was left clear when nearest pursuer Riviere D’etel crashed out four from home in the Grade 3 contest.

The daughter of No Risk At All popped the two fences in the straight to record an easy 25-length success over Limerick Lace.

“It was a nice performance from her. She enjoyed being in front today and Paul said she just enjoyed her jumping and galloping,” said Mullins.

“We’ll possibly look at the Opera Hat next at Naas, it’s down in trip which wouldn’t be ideal, but it’s a mares race.”

Vega takes the stage

Aurora Vega was the first of the Closutton winners on the card, when taking the opening mares hurdle in cosy fashion.

Townend also made all on the 10/11 favourite and she was asked for an effort going to the last, posting a two-and-a-half-length win over Mongibello.

It was a much better effort by the daughter of Quevega, who had pulled up when last seen in late October and Mullins said: “She at least put that run in Wexford behind her and looked like she’s back on an upward curve.

“I’m very happy with how she jumped and how she handled the ground. I think there is the Solerina race here towards the end of the month and we’d be looking at that. I like when they show a liking for here, because you can always look at the Grade 1 race at Easter.”

In the following ITM Irish Stallion Trail Maiden Hurdle, Sounds Victorius rallied to run out a convincing winner of the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Townend was prominent throughout on the 4/11 shot. He was headed two from home, but dug deep to grab Come Walk With Me on the run-in for a two-and-three-quarter length win.

“He’s a lovely big type, a real chasing type,” said Mullins afterwards.

“He’s just really laid back and he just idled. When the other horses came around him, it took him a while to pick up and go again. It looks like he’s crying out for a further trip. We’ll be aiming him higher now and he might be an Albert Bartlett type.”

THE last of the quartet of winners came when Champ Kiely made a winning start over fences in the Bellshill Beginners Chase.

He was another who made most of the running and Townend sent him clear in the closing stages for an impressive 11-length win over Chigorin.

It was the Grade 1-winning hurdler’s first outing since April 2023 and Mullins said afterwards: “He did everything as it should be done, he galloped and jumped.

“Paul was very happy that he’s much more relaxed over fences than he was over hurdles, which will hopefully bring about more improvement in him. He could easily step up in trip.

“We’ll have to look at the two-mile-five race (Grade 1 Scalp Novice Chase) at the Dublin Racing festival.”

Cawley collects

Must Go Now attracted support in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle and ran out a cosy winner for owner/trainer Eddie Cawley.

The Ocovango gelding was backed from 20/1 in the morning into 10/1 and came with a strong run to lead before the last under Kieren Buckley.

He galloped on strongly to score by five lengths over Tyson.

“We’re happy with that, he’s [an] eight-year-old, so he’s entitled to it,” said Cawley.

“We ran him at Punchestown over three miles and felt he just didn’t get the trip. We thought we’d go back to two-and-a-half here and it obviously worked. Kieren said he definitely doesn’t want heavy ground either. Hopefully, we can get another one out of him somewhere along the line.”

IN the other handicap hurdle on the card, stamina won the day for 18/1 shot John Storey in a race run at a frantic pace.

The Liam Cusack-trained Yeats gelding stayed on to lead at the last, under Danny Gilligan, and record a two-and-three-quarter length win over Crossing The Bar.

“It was a very good ride. I said to the owner (Michael Heery) that they were going very quick early on, and we wouldn’t have any great early speed,” said Cusack.

“He took his time. I said if he could get into a rhythm and travel and when you go for him, go for him and he’ll just stay going. He needs all that trip and, if he jumps a fence down the road, he’ll stay. He’s by Yeats and is tough. We bred him ourselves and he owes us a few quid at this stage! It’s nice for him to win.”

A very Good Deal

Eoghan Finegan gave Good Deal a well judged ride to land the concluding bumper on the card.

Paddy Magee’s charge went to post a 20/1 shot, having been as big as 80/1 in the morning, but made virtually all in the two-miler.

The Ivawood gelding was driven clear early in the straight and had enough up his sleeve late on to score by a length from the fast-finishing Largy Belter.

“I thought he was impressive. He’s been off the track for a while and hasn’t been on grass or anything,” said Magee.

“I thought he’d need the run. Eoghan gave him a lovely ride, he got it easy enough in front and quickened well off the bend. He’s nearly 17 hands, he just had two runs and we let him off. We were coming here hoping for a nice first run and maybe win the next day.

“I’d say he’ll be sold, if not he could go for a winners bumper.”