Captain Cee Bee makes pleasing return
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.
Harty commented: “He has done it very well. I was thrilled the way he jumped and he seemed to travel well and enjoy the whole thing. We were a bit worried about the heavy ground and it caught him out in the last hundred yards.
“Touch wood, everything will be OK in the morning. He’s entered at Leopardstown on St. Stephen’s Day (in the Grade 1 inforthenight.ie Novice Chase) and won’t run before that. We’ll see how he fares then.”
Captain Cee Bee was cut to 14/1 (from 20) by Paddy Power for the 2010 Arkle at Cheltenham while Boylesports offer 12/1 (from 14).
Torphichen, successful twice for David Pipe last season before owner Thomas Barr transferred his horses to Edward O’Grady, proved the most impressive winner of the day, outclassing his six rivals to beat Arabella Boy readily in the Fishery Lane 4-Y-0 Hurdle.
Andrew McNamara bided his time on the Alhaarth gelding, seized the initiative between the last two flights and, soon clear, Torphichen stayed on strongly to triumph by six lengths.
O’Grady admitted: “I’m pleasantly surprised and pleased that he did it as nicely as that. But don’t ask me about plans. I have no idea where he’ll go. I didn’t think he was well-handicapped coming here and he’ll be even higher now.”
Well-backed all day and a strong 5/4 favourite on-track, the Noel Meade-trained Thegreatjohnbrowne duly obliged in the bumper, holding Willie Mullins’ Some Target by a length.
Ridden by ‘M.J.’ (Mark) Doran, son of owner Martin, the strapping Beneficial gelding was unsuited by the muddling pace but, once he hit the front at the two-furlong pole, he kept finding enough to keep the runner-up at bay.
“He’s a gorgeous horse,” stated a delighted Noel Meade. “He stays well and jumps great and you won’t see him in any more bumpers. He’s still a bit green but is a horse with a good future. He’ll run in a maiden hurdle, probably at Leopardstown over Christmas.”
Local trainer Denis Cullen, who took over recently from his father-in-law Michael O’Brien, saddled his second winner when Little Barney, ridden by Andrew Lynch, made all to win the Racing Again At Naas 3rd January Maiden Hurdle at the expense of promising newcomer The Hard Hat.
Little Barney held on by three-quarters of a length, although clearly tiring in the closing stages, having set a strong enough pace in the testing conditions. Cullen said: “He’s a big baby still. But he’s improving. The ground and trip suited him today. As he gets stronger, he should stay further. He’ll stay hurdling for now, but will jump fences next season.”
In the handicap action, Davy Russell partnered the Arthur Moore-trained Plaisir D’Estruval to a clear-cut win over Askthemaster in the Become A Naas Annual Member Handicap Chase.
Moore commented: “He’s been disappointing but it came right in the end. He’s an adaptable horse and we’ll mix it with him. He’ll run somewhere over Christmas.”
First-time blinkers made a difference for Fivestar Alstars, which recorded his sixth career win for Philip Goulding from Tallow, Co. Waterford in the Event Hire At Naas Racecourse Handicap Hurdle, holding the fast-finishing, Paul Carberry-ridden Heartstead Dream by a short-head. The ten-year-old, described by his trainer as “a great servant“, provided jockey Adrian Joyce with his first win since scoring on Treacle at Listowel in September.
Mighty Bob, trained by Ger Farrell for the Corncrake Syndicate and nibbled at from big prices in the morning, made virtually all to win the novice handicap chase under Conor Maxwell.
