AS has become the norm, the Irish Draught enthusiasts were out early on Wednesday morning, as the competitive action at the 2024 Dublin Horse Show got under way in Ring 2 with the first of two performance Irish Draught classes.

Twelve four and five-year-olds, who had qualified at one of four venues throughout the country, took on the Dereck Hamilton-designed track, among them last year’s runner-up, Dermot Molloy’s Cummer Dubh, who was again ridden by Diarmuid Ryan.

Disappointingly for connections, that Heigh Ho Dubh gelding once more had to settle for second (304 points), being narrowly beaten by the mare Carrafarm Constellations (305), who had placed fifth in 2023.

Both greys recorded clear rounds, as did three others in the class but, while Cummer Dubh got a higher score (37 to 35) from the ride judge, Wayne Thorneycroft, the Sarah Maxwell-ridden Carrafarm Constellations had edged ahead in the flatwork phase (62 to 58).

Owned by Maxwell and her father Larry, ‘Stella’, who was broken by Emily MacMahon, was bred out of the Star Kingdom mare Sky Full Of Stars by Samantha Fitzsimons and Niamh Grimes who were ringside, as were breeders of other entries in the class.

The Maxwells run a breaking, schooling and sales preparation yard in Co Westmeath and all their young horses hunt first with the South Westmeaths before moving on to the Ward Union.

Highest conformation

Molloy and Ryan had a second entry in this class, the four-year-old King Vinny gelding Two Mile Nigel, who recorded the highest conformation (28) and ride (39) marks, but lowered two fences to finish third (298).

The highest flat score (66) was recorded by BC Flurry Knox, but the five-year-old Gortfree Lakeside Lad gelding, who had been jumping well to that point, was eliminated when jettisoning rider Aimee Stunt at the bank.