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.