Margie McLoone

LARGE numbers of Irish Draughts contested the four qualifiers this year but, once again, only 12 made it through to the two classes which will get the performance section of the Dublin Horse Show under way in Ring 2 next Wednesday morning.

Of the dozen four and five-year-olds due to appear before David Machin and Robin Sharp, three belong to J.J. Bowe, who will feel that he is due compensation for last year when his Lurgan Lad, although called back after a clear round, wasn’t considered for a prize following a change of rider.

Louise Lyons qualified two of the three four-year-old geldings, Rosscahill Lad (by Ginger Holly) and Elm View Hero (by Clonakilty Hero) at Forth Mountain, while Cloonan Hector (by Clew Bay Bouncer) qualified at Tullymurry under Damien McCormack.

Niamh Grimes, who rode last year’s winner Bright Like A Diamond, is another with two rides here: The Solar Flare, a 2011 gelding by Crannagh Hero, and the Balmoral winner Pagestown Harmony, a four-year-old mare by Crosstown Dancer.

There are two stallions in the class, Cappa Stud’s Cappa Aristocrat (Maeve Carty) and Liam Lynskey’s DS Ballagh Bouncer (Hannah Gordon). The former, a five-year-old by Star Kingdom, is also contesting the ID stallion class in which he finished second last year, while Lynskey’s Moylough Bouncer grey is an entry in the four-year-old working hunter class.

The Balmoral winner, Alicia Devlin Byrne’s 10-year-old chesnut gelding King Flagmount (by Welcome Flagmount), is one of the stand-out names in the six-year-old and upwards class where another owner-ridden favourite is Ann Lambert’s 12-year-old Grange Bouncer stallion Killinick Bouncer, who won this class last year and went on to be champion.