THURSDAY is traditionally the day when Irish Draught fans descend on the RDS to watch the mare and foal classes, plus have a preview of the Irish Draught stallion class as a preliminary parade takes place at 1pm.

By then, we’ll know the winners of the morning classes as first up at 10.45am is the young mare class for three or four-year-olds. Last year’s winner - Padraig Bohan’s Gortfadda Diamonds (Inisfree The Iron Cross) - bids for a double and the Mohill family also have her stable companion Whitefield Gabby (Carrickcottage Star).

Lisa and John Baker’s Malahow Grace’s Legacy (Moylough Legacy) has had a good summer and another confirmed, coincidentally by the same sire, is Gerard Sweeney’s Glenveagh Supreme Legacy.

Her dam Supreme Focus (Coille Mor Hill) jumped in the Dublin age classes for three consecutive years and also at the WBFSH championships in Lanaken as a six-year-old.

Julie Cornthwaite and Claire Oliver then have the second mare class to judge which sees Donegal owners Valerie Davis and Charmaine Kee return with last year’s champion and reserve mares: Castleview Lady Georgina (Castleview Inisfree Farmer) and Gweebarra Realta (Millhollow The Real Mac Coy).

Western support

Western owners support the Irish Draught classes at Dublin in strong numbers and also throwing down their challenge are previous RDS prize winners such as Des McDonnell’s Silver View (Fast Silver) and Louise Shaughnessy’s Crusheen Breeze (Coolcronan Wood).

The Irish Draught mare championship is then decided with the coveted Eileen Parkhill trophy presentation taking place before the Irish Draught stallion parade. Judging resumes at 5.20pm of the two Irish Draught purebred foal classes and a partbred class. The foal championship is then scheduled for 6.20pm.

The Irish Draught classes have benefitted from longstanding sponsors and the latest one is a good match in the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association (IDHBA). A welcome bonus of €200 will be paid to the breeder of the champion mare.