The tickets went to two deserving mares in Flavia and Catriona who had jumped clear but were beaten by the clock in three previous rounds.

According to joint-owner Ado Moran, huntsman with the Carlow Farmers, the five-year-old Flavia is the first foal born by Killinick Bouncer, who himself qualified for Dublin in the older Irish Draught class at Scarteen.

“She was bred by a friend of mine, James Maye from Fermoy, and I bought her as a three-year-old.”

Moran gave a half share in Flavia, whose dam is the unraced Lecot Star (by Fourstars Allstar), to his girlfriend Helen Keatley as a Christmas present and the TRI Equestrian staff member has hunted the grey with the Killinicks and the Kildares. They also competed in three legs of the Stepping Stones to Success series.

Although on the market, Flavia will not be sold until after Dublin, according to Keatley who, in 144.56, was closest under the optimum time of 145 seconds.

RELIEVED

Catherine Robinson was also very relieved to have finally qualified with Neill McCluskey’s Catriona who was home clear in 144.39. The five-year-old bay mare, who is by the popular Holstein stallion Ars Vivendi, was bred by Triona Maxwell out of the Diamond Mine mare Cloncannon Princess.

Of the 13 starters, five horses recorded clear rounds while five others were eliminated.