Susan Finnerty

IN comparison to the sadly-cancelled Croker Cup class for thoroughbred stallions, its Irish Draught counterpart continues to be well-supported and next Friday’s class promises to be yet another fascinating rematch between established and up-and-coming sires.

Back to defend his 2016 title is P.J. Fitzpatrick’s Carrabawn Cross and the Young Carrabawn-sired nine-year-old is one of three former champions in this year’s field. Not only did he win the Parkiytext-sponsored class last year but Carrabawn Cross also sired the third-placed Moylough Legacy, owned by Pat Hoare.

He was one of several three-year-olds that made their mark in the 2016 class and he returns next week.

Slotted in between the very similar liver chesnut types in the 2016 class was Cappa Amadeus, one of Jimmy Quinn’s four entries last year. Quinn has gone one better this year by entering five stallions, including last year’s reserve, by Cooloo Crest.

Amadeus is joined by the other Cappa entries, including the Star Kingdom-sired Cappa Aristocrat (2015 reserve champion) and his two successful graduates at the IDHS(GB) inspections this spring: Millhollow Stroller, by his own Cappa Cochise, and Cappa Dianthus.

The latter, a grandson of the famous Pink Carnation, is by the fifth Quinn entry; Cappa Cassanova, already a three-time champion here.

Bidding to join Dublin treble champions Cappa Cassanova and Crosstown Dancer, is two-time winner Gortfree Hero and Sean Barker’s Castana 15-year-old produced the goods at Dublin last year as the sire of the supreme hunter champion Fort Knocks.

Western owners have been the strongest supporters of this class in recent years and though last year’s prizewinners Carrigfadda Troy and Moylough Bouncer, owned by Martin Murphy and Liam Lynskey, are absentees this year, Seamus Sloyan is back with his own Cloneyhea Spellbound. The distinctive Arthurs Gold five-year-old scored the highest conformation score when approved last year.

Once again, the RDS have formed a unique UK/German judging combination for the Irish Draught breeding stock classes and this year’s judges are Mrs Ann Kay, from Yorkshire and Mr Ulrich Hahne, deputy breeding director for the Hannoverian Verband.

Fans will have an opportunity to see this year’s contenders on parade in Ring 1 on Thursday at 2.10pm, before the Irish Draught mare and foal classes and the stallion class is scheduled for judging on the following day at 1.30pm.