Tag Archive for: Allegorie De Vassy

Allegorie De Vassy stays unbeaten for Mullins at Thurles

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Allegorie De Vassy’s winning streak continued as she cantered to victory in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has been victorious in three previous starts for the Clossuton handler, most recently taking the Grade Two Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick by 19 lengths.

At the same level at Thurles she was the 1-8 favourite to oblige again – but gave onlookers a fright when pausing to take a look at the first fence and nearly unseating Paul Townend.

That was the only moment of doubt, however, as the bay then strolled home without seeing another rival to prevail by 19 lengths once again.

Mullins said: “Maybe it was my fault as I said to Paul to let her go from the start and she was too exuberant at the first – I don’t think he’ll be listening to me again!

“Paul thinks it was pure exuberance and he was letting her roll down to the fence rather than pulling her together and asking her. She went off right, but he gathered her together more after that.

“I think it was a one-off thing and she didn’t get a jump this week as our jumping area was frozen.

“She was just too fresh and exuberant, but settled into it nicely and confirmed what she showed at Limerick.

“What impressed me at Limerick was that she was able to jump so well out of the heavy ground – most horses can’t keep that up for two miles and four furlongs, but she did against good opposition.”

Paddy Power make Allegorie De Vassy the 13-8 favourite for the Mares’ Chase they sponsor at Cheltenham, with Coral going 6-4 for the Festival contest.

Mullins added: “I’m very pleased today and doubt she’ll run before Cheltenham although she will have a school somewhere, maybe after the Dublin Racing Festival or the week after that. At the moment the mares’ chase (at Cheltenham) is where she’ll go.”

Henry de Bromhead had a smart-looking winner on the card as Belle The Lioness took the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle under Rachael Blackmore.

The 2-7 favourite was not foot-perfect over the final two flights but still booked her ticket to Cheltenham with a half-length victory.

“We’ve had a lot of fun with her and she hasn’t been out of the first two for us. She got lit up by the loose horse and plenty went against her and in a better race, the way to ride her is to take your time,” De Bromhead said.

“On her previous run, we are going to aim for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham – we’re entitled to go and take our chance. She has done plenty already, has her black type and will go straight there.”

In the concluding Thurles Racecourse Hunters Chase there was a winning favourite again as Ferns Lock won at even money – meaning all seven races on the card were claimed by the horse at the top of the market.

A 20-length winner ahead of Cheltenham and Punchestown champion Billaway, David Christie’s Ferns Lock carried Barry O’Neill to an easy win around the three-mile, half-furlong trip.

“He has the potential to be a serious horse and Barry said he learned more today than the last day. He said Billaway eyeballed him early in the race and he panicked a bit and took a while to settle. Once he settled into a rhythm he was pretty good and there is improvement to come.

“He is 17 hands, is a huge tank and after Fairyhouse we gave him a break but put on about 50 kilos! Then I had to try and get it off him and was panicking.

“He is a horse for next year and won’t go away – the Tetratema (at Gowran) will be one of his main aims. I definitely won’t send him to Cheltenham as he might be run off his head and it could scare the life out of him.

“What this horse has over my other three hunter chasers (Vaucelet, Winged Leader and Ultimate Optimist) is a serious kick of gear.

“He has the potential to be top class and we’ve always held him in the highest regard.”

Allegorie De Vassy takes next step on Festival trail

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Allegorie De Vassy bids to strengthen her Cheltenham Festival claims in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles on Sunday.

The six-year-old is three from three since joining Willie Mullins from France – scoring twice over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season before making an impressive chasing debut in a Grade Two at Limerick over the Christmas period.

She is already the 7-4 favourite for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham with sponsors Paddy Power and those odds may well contract if she can claim another Grade Two victory this weekend.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: “We’re very happy with Allegorie De Vassy. She was fantastic in Limerick and we’re hoping she can do the same again.

“It looks a very good opportunity, so you’d be disappointed if she couldn’t convert.”

Another runner who is very much Cheltenham-bound is Billaway, who won the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at last year’s Festival under Mullins and makes his seasonal reappearance in the Thurles Racecourse Hunters Chase.

Billaway is back in action on Sunday
Billaway is back in action on Sunday (Niall Carson/PA)

“He’s been an incredible horse and I think there’s only three horses in the yard that have won more races than he has,” Mullins added.

“He’s never won first time out – he finished second in this race last year – and I’d imagine he’ll come on for the run again.

“March and April (Punchestown) are his two big days.”

Allegorie De Vassy strikes Grade Two gold on chasing bow

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Allegorie De Vassy strengthened her position as ante-post favourite for the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with a bloodless victory at Limerick.

A dual winner over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season after joining Willie Mullins from France, the five-year-old was a 1-2 favourite to make a successful switch to fences in the Grade Two McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase.

Ridden by Sean O’Keeffe on her first competitive appearance in 333 days, Allegorie De Vassy was sent straight to the lead and was particularly impressive in the jumping department for much of the race.

Malina Girl gave vain chase in the straight and the leader was a little clumsy at the final two obstacles, but was ultimately in a league of her own as she passed the post with 19 lengths in hand.

O’Keeffe said: “I’m very happy with her and she is very enthusiastic about her job. She winged the first two fences, loves to get on with it, so I said I’d let her go along in front. I was trying to slow her down all the time really.

“She has a very big jump in her, has loads of scope and is a big mare. She was brave at the second-last but will have learned a bit jumping the last two fences and that will stand to her the next day. She put in a good round of jumping other than that.

“There is a nice engine there and hopefully (she) can continue progressing over fences.”

Allegorie De Vassy is the 9-4 market leader with Paddy Power to provide Mullins with a third successive win in the Mares’ Chase at Prestbury Park following the previous triumphs of Colreevy and Elimay.

Allegorie De Vassy carries the colours of prominent owner Rich Ricci
Allegorie De Vassy carries the colours of prominent owner Rich Ricci (Tim Goode/PA)

Joe Chambers, racing manager for owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, said: “She was good, didn’t learn much going around so I’d say the last two mistakes were handy and will stand to her.

“Sean was delighted, he won two on her last year and is more familiar with her than Paul (Townend). He thinks she has a lot of natural ability and it is good to get her going.

“If she is half as good as the other mare (Benie Des Dieux) we brought down here in the past, we’d be fairly happy!”

Regarding Cheltenham plans, he added: “It is not all about the destination, the journey getting there is every bit as important as well and we’ll try to pick up a few other races first.

“There are other races for her in Thurles and Clonmel, but we’ll let Willie decide that.”