Willie Mullins started the year on a positive note with four winners at Fairyhouse and two at Tramore on New Year's Day.

The Fairyhouse four-timer was headed by Allegorie De Vassy who made light work of the YellowFord & Drumlin John & Chich Fowler Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase.

The eight-year-old was contesting the Grade 3 as the 5/4 favourite under Paul Townend, a race she finished second in last season when well beaten by Gordon Elliott’s reopposing Riviere d’Etel.

Again a field of five assembled for the race and Allegorie De Vassy made all of the running, making smooth progress throughout and strolling to a straightforward triumph with her nearest rival 25 lengths behind in the shape of Gavin Cromwell’s Limerick Lace.

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

“Even with the 24mm of rain they had here the ground needed it all. It’s still not real winter heavy or anything like that and she enjoyed that nice bit of ground.

“She put in some super jumps and I’m very happy with her.

“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.”

Sounds Victorius opened his account over timber with success in the ITM Irish Stallion Trail Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The six-year-old was fourth in both the Grade 1 bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season, but some less than fluent jumping denied him the chance to win his jumping bow at Punchestown in November.

On the second time of asking he started the 4/11 favourite when ridden by Paul Townend and this time he got his head in front by two and three-quarter lengths.

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

“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.

“With the new configuration of hurdles here, so they don’t have to take them out because of sun, there is a lot of racing without a hurdle. Paul said he lost complete interest going down the back.

“It’s a better system though if they can have all the jumps in and I applaud Fairyhouse for that. 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.

“He’s out of a Presenting mare so he’s going to stay all day and he’ll go on better ground.”

Mullins and Townend got their afternoon off to a good start when Aurora Vega returned to winning ways in the opening mares' hurdle.

The seven-year-old is exceptionally well-bred as she is the daughter of the great Quevega and is by Walk In The Park, a pedigree that ensured expectations were high when she began her career.

Her spell in bumpers yielded three wins from five starts and she won her hurdling debut in summer, but was pulled up when last seen at Wexford in October and was reported to be “clinically abnormal” by the vet afterwards.

Returning to action at Fairyhouse she was nevertheless the 10/11 favourite and although her jumping was not without error, she was ultimately able to claim a workmanlike two-and-a-half-length victory.

“She at least put that run in Wexford behind her and looked like she’s back on an upward curve,” said Mullins.

“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 here at Easter.”

Later on the card Champ Kiely (10/11 favourite) had an easy time of things in his beginners chase, following a 614-day absence.

Successful by 11 lengths after a slick round of jumping, the bay showed plenty of promise despite his lengthy break from racing and impressed both trainer and jockey.

“He did everything as it should be done, he galloped and jumped,” said Mullins.

“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.

“We’ll have to look at the two-mile-five race at the Dublin Racing Festival.

“He could easily step up in trip, Paul remarked that he was so relaxed which means you could step up.”

Tramore double

At Tramore Mullins won the featured Grade 3 chase with Embassy Gardens (9/1) while Moro Coko (6/4 favourite) won the opening hurdle race.

Embassy Gardens barely broke a sweat when claiming the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase.

Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old started his chasing career last season and was runner-up in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after two prior victories earlier in the term.

He returned to action under Michael O’Sullivan as a 9/1 chance at Tramore, with Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star sitting at the head of the market as the 4/5 favourite.

Embassy Gardens took up the lead immediately and put plenty of space between himself and his rivals, a margin that may have been reduced but was never closed as he won by an easy five lengths.

“I just said to Mikey today that if there was nobody going on to bounce out and be positive on him,” said Mullins, who was watching on from Fairyhouse on a day when he saddled six winners across two meetings.

“He loves jumping, loves galloping and loves that ground.

“He had an easier task than his owner. When I was talking to Sean Mulryan (owner) he said he was on holiday with nine grandchildren and no television signal!.

“I thought last year he was a Grand National horse and that’s why we went for the National Hunt Chase, but I’m not sure that real extended trips suit him.

“I’m thinking is he better off being off being positive over two and a half to three miles rather than three and a half.

“He seems to run better fresh and we’ll have to factor all that into where he goes next. It’s great to have him back in that sort of form.”

The winning rider added: “It was brilliant. He gave me a super feel. He’s a dude of a horse. He jumped and galloped away, and he’d have gone round again.

“We were hopeful coming here. Dave Porter and Georgia, who look after him, were very happy with him. He was probably forward enough for his first run, and he just go into a lovely rhythm.

“Coming down the hill, I couldn’t believe how easy I was going. I had plenty left in the tank, and he winged the last and won quite snugly.

“I think he wasn’t right at the end of last season, but he’s a gorgeous horse, so I’d say there’s plenty of big ones in him.”