TWO dozen Irish Draught contenders were the first of the Dublin Horse Show week hopefuls in Ring 2 on Wednesday. And while the debate continued ringside and along the stable aisles between Draught enthusiasts about modern and traditional types seen within the breed, both ‘brands’ were on display in Wednesday morning’s shopwindow.

First of the APCOA-sponsored Irish Draught performance classes, judged by Louise Daly (ride) and Jenny Banks (conformation) was the four/five-year-old section and it was a second Dublin final win for Lismore producer Sean Looney, having won there in 2019 with Stormy Diamond Lady.

Both she and his latest champion, the five-year-old Benlowcross gelding Benlows Hero, are owned by Marian Ryan and Kieran Smith from Cahir and for good measure, they also bred Wednesday’s winner.

The upstanding grey qualified at Tullylish and is by the Holycross son Benlowcross. He is one of 10 recorded progeny of his Crannagh Hero-Golden Warrior dam Goleen Bay and has been produced by Looney since he arrived in his yard as a three-year-old. “You can’t win anywhere better,” said a delighted Looney who had a quick turnaround for the following class.

Diarmuid Ryan, another specialist producer in these native breed performance classes, was second in this class by 2.5 points with Dermot Molloy’s Cummer Hero. A Heigh Ho Dubh four-year-old out of the Crannagh Hero dam Cummermore Lady, he was bred near Thurles by Larry Carey. Third place went to another four-year-old, JJ Bowe’s Patrickswell Danny, ridden for his Kiltealy owner by Alice Griffin. Another Holycross link in the top-three pedigrees as this grey gelding, bred in Kilroosky, Co Roscommon, by Seamus Biesty, is by Baltydaniel Silver Fox out of the Holycross mare Cillcearn Holly.

Sean Looney’s flying change into the saddle of Savannah Herself almost paid off when the Castlegar Fin Grove six-year-old mare finished second in the following final. Here the winner was Tom McNamara’s Shanbally Catchphrase, fourth here previously but this year posting an uncatchable score of 289.5. There was a queue of three prospective customers waiting afterwards for the six-year-old, another by Heigh Ho Dubh.

Bred in Banagher by John Delahunt, the winner’s dam is Altnastar Bluebelle, by Cappa Cochise and out of the Sir Rivie-Blue Rajah dam Altnastar Altnastar Belle.

Specialists

The father-and-daughter team of Tom and Maria McNamara are also specialists at supplying Irish Draughts and Irish-breds for their customers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Having won this class before with Shanbally Blazer, they have produced Shanbally Catchphrase since he was a two-year-old and qualified this year at Rincoola. A favourite of North Galway Hunt master Tom, his cross-country experience really stood him in good stead over the Dereck Hamilton-designed track.

The second-placed Savannah Herself was bred in Co Galway by David and Ann O’Reilly and her dam Kilardea Hazel is by the Holycross son, Creggan Emperor.

Edwina O’Connor’s great year with Ashwood Reggie continues as following their win in the Irish Draught performance class at Balmoral in May, the pair qualified at Rincoola for Dublin where they finished third last Wednesday. A nine-year-old experienced hunter, he was bred by David Miley in Co Wicklow and is by Keamore Diamond Clover out of the Fast Silver mare Beara Lady.