Captain Cee Bee proves well-being ahead of Galway

THE Tony McCoy-ridden Captain Cee Bee bagged the Kevin McManus Bookmakers Grimes Hurdle spoils at Tipperary yesterday, holding the tenderly-handled The Real Article by the minimum margin as both horses proved their well-being ahead of next week’s Galway Festival.

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.