Captain Cee Bee makes pleasing return

OFF the track since April of last year, Captain Cee Bee made a triumphant return when landing the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase, on his fencing debut at Naas yesterday.

The eight-year-old, winner of the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham in 2008 before being pulled up at Aintree three weeks later, jumped and travelled well and, having taken the lead before the final fence, held the challenge of Zaarito by a neck, despite tiring on the run-in.

Captain Cee Bee, which missed all of last season due to a minor setback, is trained for J P McManus by Eddie Harty who stated: “That was better than good,” after greeting his stable star and Tony McCoy in the winner’s enclosure.