Captain back in charge
Sunday 7 October 2012
Edward Harty's veteran Captain Cee Bee sprang a minor surprise in the Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle at Tipperary as he turned the tables on Rebel Fitz.
The JP McManus-owned 11-year-old (9-1) had been beaten by the odds-on favourite in his last two runs and it looked on the cards again as everything appeared to be going smoothly for Rebel Fitz, with Davy Russell sitting motionless two from home, tracking Captain Cee Bee.
But Michael Winters' Galway Hurdle winner weakened rapidly, allowing Captain Cee Bee and Mark Walsh to come home 11 length to the good.
The Willie Mullins pair of Thousand Stars and Blackstairmountain were both well beaten.
"I wasn't surprised. I'm biased, but the horse has never got the credit he deserves for how good he is. He had a bit of bad luck in the Galway Hurdle. He missed the break," said Harty.
"We'll stick to hurdling for the moment, but plans are fluid. There's no point in experimenting with him at 11. I'll be lucky to have another one like him."
Oliver McKiernan's Whatever Jacksays made ever yard of the running in the Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle. Sent off the 4-7 favourite, he showed no ill-effects from his poor run on the level last week and Robbie Colgan never had any concerns.
McKiernan said: "We've no real plans, but we might step him up in trip. He's going well on the soft ground so the winter shouldn't bother him. There isn't much for him between now and Christmas. He loves his racing and his heart is in the right place."
Pride Of The Artic's winning run continued in the www.thetote.com Like A Butterfly Novice Chase.
Having won his previous three, Peter Fahey's charge proved tough to pass and made every yard of the running to reward punters at 4-1, with Jacksonslady having to settle for second after looking to be going best late on.
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