Captain back with a bang

Captain Cee Bee made a fantastic start to his career over fences when defying market-weakness to make a winning comeback after 608 days on the sidelines under Tony McCoy in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.

Eddie Harty's gelding was a definite leader at the last where he poached a decisive advantage from Zaarito Try as he might under Paul Townend, the latter couldn't reel in Captain Cee Bee, a neck being the margin at the line. Zaarito's fellow market-leader, An Cathaoir Mor finished five lengths further back in third with Sorceror a length and a half further back in fourth.

Harty said of J P McManus' gelding, hero of the hour in the 2008 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham: "That was good, better than good. He done it well but nearly got caught out for the lack of a recent run in the last hundred yards.

"I'm thrilled with the way he jumped and travelled and I couldn't have been disappointed even if he had got caught. Touch-wood everything will be okay in the morning. The race in Leopardstown (the Grade 1 Bord Na Mona Novice Chase on St Stephen's Day) will probably be his next run. I'll talk to Frank (Berry, J P's racing manager) but he won't run before then."