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WILLIE MULLINS TURNED the page on a quieter than usual Christmas as he kicked off 2025 with a brilliant six winners across the New Year’s Day cards in Fairyhouse and Tramore.
Mullins managed seven wins across the four days of festive racing in Leopardstown and Limerick, but reigning Champion Hurdler State Man looked decidedly off form in his headline defeat to Brighterdaysahead, while both Lossiemouth and Ballyburn came up short on their cross-channel bids in Kempton.
But Allegorie de Vassy made light work of the John & Chich Fowler Memorial Mares Chase at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day as the Closutton trainer enjoyed a superb start to 2025.
Who's old enough to remember when there were question marks about @WillieMullinsNH's stable form? 🤔
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 1, 2025
𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐃𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 adds further gloss to Team Closutton's fab start to 2025 with a ruthless success in the Grade Three @IrishEBF_ Mares Chase @Fairyhouse 💥 pic.twitter.com/wE3ZzT4Bt8
The eight-year-old was contesting the Grade Three 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 part of a four-timer across the card for Mullins and Townend who also won with 10-11 favourite Aurora Vega in the opening mares hurdle, 4-11 shot Sounds Victorious in the maiden hurdle, and 10-11 favourite Champ Kiely in the beginners chase.
And after taking the opening maiden hurdle at Tramore with 6-4 favourite More Coko in the hands of Brian Hayes, Mullins also claimed the Grade 3 feature as 9-1 shot Embassy Gardens stayed on for a five-length win over Monty’s Star in the New Year’s Day Chase.
𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬 blossoms in the Grade Three @ODriscollsWhis1 New Year's Day Chase @TramoreRaces 🍀@WillieMullinsNH's stayer - runner-up in the four-miler at last season's @CheltenhamRaces Festival - makes virtually every yard under an astute @Michael_OSull pic.twitter.com/MiJUhAjiAB
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 1, 2025
Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else.
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Fine. Now let’s get to legalizing weed, please
@Wicked Hedgehog: that will have the people turned schizophrenic, running around with knives attacking people. Dangerous stuff indeed keep it away.
@Wicked Hedgehog: Yes, that’s worked so well in America.
@Wicked Hedgehog: I think alcohol is a bigger problem in Ireland, should we look at banning it?
@Mick Joe: America ain’t the only country where weed is legal a Nation that shoots people for fun isn’t good example how about Spain where you can buy it in weed clubs or Holland and soon to be in Germany
@Stephen Blood: just back from kos, they had vending machine in some shops selling weed, pre rolled joints and even the gummies,
@Meatball Martin: personally I wouldn’t want it to be honest, I’ve nothing against anyone who wants to smoke it as I’m a ex smoker myself but vending machine with no control over will end up with 6yr old kids off their tots on gummies, a shop in kos had a locked door that you had to ask to be opened and let in, then it was like an aladins cave for weed smokers, very well managed and controlled
@Sean Money: The health hazards of any substance come from having unregulated supply.
Take it out of the hand of criminals, and those problems go away.
Yet another argument for legalisation.
@Wicked Hedgehog: Need a few generations of Sky-pointers gone (just like Sean there), we’re not a very rational people. Get a Vivosun or some-such discreet automated set up, and you can control your needs plus your not supporting crime, rather the already gargantuan industry. Just that Ireland doesn’t benefit in any way, cant use the money to support health lead approach etc.
Why ban the sale of tobacco product to under 21s but the establishment are pushing for children their change their gender
@Niall Fennessy: They need to throw the public “a bone” to appear to care.
Just an observation. I was in our local shop at the weekend, young and very capable confident student working for summer, one person handed in lotto slip, student had to press bell for assistance as under 18, next person requested cigs, again student had to ring bell for assistance.
@Nancy Gallagher: What’s your point? That we should stop phasing out smoking because of inconvenience?
@Dennis L: Probs there should always be someone over 18 in attendance would be fine
Totally agree with that bill and it should be extended to vapes
But it wil drive the whole thing underground more
@John Gaughan: Australia has now restricted the sale of vapes to pharmacies only. A step in the right direction
@John C: Doctor on the radio this morning explaining that vaping was safer alternative than smoking cigarettes and the lesser of two evils, I think it’s you that’s the dope and a big one at that.
Nanny state telling people what to do . Sitting on a couch watching TV for 4 hrs a day on top of sitting at a desk for 8 is a far greater health risk.
It’s nearly 20 euros a pack now.
But at least the choice remain
They will just get their 22 year old mate to buy the Cogs for them
I don’t smoke anymore I find ffgs hubris disgusting at this stage and at least 50,% of there support know, we diverse a better way
@Robert Halvey: we diverse a better way of what?
Kids don’t smoke cigarettes they vape so all a bit pointless
@Martin Curtin: though that’s not true it seems
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210920/Study-finds-rising-rates-of-smoking-and-vaping-among-teenagers-in-Ireland.aspx
Should be banned completely.
“The health hazards of any substance come from having unregulated supply”
Are the cigarettes bought in shops a healthy version? Does alcohol served in pubs have no impact on our livers?
Wow.
Pointless to do anything about tobacco without mirroring it for vapes.
It took years for vapes not to be sold to under 18′s yet it was patently obvious they were bad.
Typical government garbage policies where they’re done out of step and allow damage to be done.
@Meatball Martin: Vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance.
And a poison.
Vapes should only be of use to those trying to stop smoking. No one else should be using them.
Do you own a vape import business, by any chance?
There is no reasonable argument for the use of vapes, except for those trying to give up smoking.
Did they never hear of king Canute?
@Padraig O’Brien: A wise man he was. He took some of his Lords and Courtiers down to the sea to prove to them that he was NOT all powerful. He ordered the tide to stop and it didn’t. Ppint effectively made.
vape shops ! Booming
Keep talking , keep drafting , live at your own bubble.
have your say