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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."