Captain Cee Bee proves well-being ahead of Galway
Better known as a chaser, the Eddie Harty trained Captain Cee Bee travelled strongly throughout the Grade 3 event and was produced by McCoy to lead at the second last flight.
But The Real Article (Paddy Mangan) loomed large on the stands side and, apparently full of running, looked poised to take command going to the last. Cee Bee was more fluent at the last and, under typically strong handling from McCoy stayed on stoutly before Mangan, riding with hands and heels, rallied The Real Article close home, but failed by a short-head to catch the 2/1 favourite.
Winning trainer Harty was understandably delighted by Captain Cee Bee’s success, commenting: “That was nice. He got a bit tired near the finish, but was entitled to. This should leave him spot-on for Galway.”
Quizzed on whether the J P McManus owed tent-year-old will contest the Tote sponsored Galway Plate (under top-weight) or the Guinness Galway Hurdle Harty added: “The Plate has always been the objective and we came here with the Plate in mind. But he did that so well, he’s left me in a quandary.
“We’ll see how he is after this and discuss things with Frank (Berry) and J P before making a final decision. He did what he was entitled to do today. So its been a good day.”
Captain Cee Bee has been allocated 10-11 in the Guinness Galway Hurdle which means that, if he contests that event, he’ll be meeting yesterday’s runner-up on 23lb., worse terms.
Edward O’Grady, trainer of The Real Article, and the gelding’s rider Paddy Mangan were questioned by the Stewards concerning the riding of the horse from the second last hurdle to the finish.
O’Grady explained that the horse ran better than expected and that he had told Managn to get a lead into the straight and push out his mount with hands and heels, and not to use his whip.
These instructions were confirmed by Mangan, who also stated that he was satisfied that The Real Article has achieved his ‘best possible placing’. The Stewards accepted the explanations.
It was not surprising that O’Grady confirmed the Guinness Galway Hurdle as The Real Article’s next assignment. Bookmakers reacted strongly, Paddy Power cutting him to 4/1 favouritism for the Thursday feature at Galway.
The colours of J P McManus were back in the winner’s enclosure after the Martin Brassil trained Double Seven, confidently handled by Bryan Cooper, defied top-weight in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Frank Berry, representing both winning owner and trainer, said: “He’s a consistent little fellow. Bryan said they went very fast and that they came back to him. We’ll try to find another similar handicap for him.
“That was the right result, but not in the order I had anticipated,” said Edward O’Grady after Slieveardagh proved a lucky winner of the opening Packie Downey Memorial Chase.
Slieveardagh, backed from 7/1 to 9/2 and ridden by Paddy Mangan, looked held in third spot behind Royal Choice (Davy Russell) and the challenging Gracchus (Paul Carberry) when both of the leaders crashed at the second last, leaving O’Grady’s charge to win, unchallenged, by fourteen lengths, from Kilflora - the winner’s stable-companion and favourite Out Now finished fourth.
O’Grady commented, “That was Slieveardagh’s first run since he cut a leg in the big handicap hurdle in Killarney in May. I thought he’d be better for the race. But he was a good hurdler and should make a nice chaser. He jumps very well, which helps.
“And, excuse the pun, everything fell into place for him today. I suppose he’ll go for the winners’ race in Galway now.”
The other chase on the card, the ‘Thank You To Alan Quinlan’ Beginners Chase also produced drama, the Jessica Harrington trained Paradis De Thaix being left clear after the falls of Doransfirth at the second last and narrow leader Vital Plot at the final fence.
