WHILE the Dublin online entries system saw some prospective entries falter at the first step, one absentee from this year’s parkiytext-sponsored Irish Draught mare classes is the 2018 champion Holycross Grace as, sadly, Eddie Murphy’s seven-year-old home-bred was lost foaling this spring.

Among a lengthy list of challengers for the Eileen Parkhill salver, presented to the mare champion on Thursday evening, is the 2017 champion, Sean Ruane’s Strictly Come Bouncing. A recent winner of a magnificent Irish Draught mare class at Louisburgh with producer Liam Lynskey, the Moylough Bouncer mare missed out on defending her title last year due to the new online entries system.

A close finisher in the Louisburgh feature class and boasting her own Dublin credentials is Des Deveney’s Clew Bay Countess. She won the young mare class in 2016, the same year she stood reserve champion for former owner Seamus Sloyan.

Numbered among former Dublin prize-winners, returning to Ring 1 next Thursday afternoon, are Danny Molloy’s Clogheen Jenny, reserve champion here in 2017. Molloy has also entered the Gortfree Hero-sired Clogheen Suzie in the young mare class and being out of his prolific mare Baltydaniel Silver Queen, she has the credentials on paper to be in the shakeup.

Other entries with good form on the circuit this year include John Bracken’s Lady Hattie, by Agherlow, (this year’s Irish Draught mare champion at Balmoral) and Ian Murphy’s Ava’s Delight. Previous Dublin prize-winners P.J Glynn’s Crannagh Rivie, John Bracken’s Uibh Fhaile Duchess and the Samantha Fitzsimons and Niamh Grimes-owned A Sky Full Of Stars, fifth in last year’s large class, are entered too.

Donegal owner Gillian Devenney had a dream result at Dublin last August when her Glensmill J Lo’s Silver Star, by Agherlow, produced the champion foal and she returns with the same mare and a Moylough Bouncer full-brother to last year’s champion.

Thursday is traditionally “Draught Day” for breed enthusiasts and the four-hour long judging sessions is timed to begin at 3.10pm, concluding with the foal championship.

Heather Milner and Per Martens are this year’s judges.