Captain Cee Bee with his trainer Eddie Harty (left) and Fran Berry after winning at the Curragh in 2012© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Eddie Harty paid tribute to Captain Cee Bee after the popular jumps star was retired at the age 13.
Winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival six years ago, the JP McManus-owned gelding was also a Grade One scorer over fences and has spent the last couple of seasons running against the best in the two-mile hurdling division.
Captain Cee Bee won 13 of his 36 starts, placing on a further 12 occasions, and earned over £415,000 in prize-money.
Harty said: "We were getting him ready for the race at Tipperary earlier in the month, but it became obvious the ground wasn't going to be right so I didn't even enter him.
"But last week he did a piece of work and I just got the impression the old spark might not be there, so rather than keep pushing him, we've decided to call it a day.
"He's been an absolute star of a horse. He's had his ups and downs and he's taken me to places you dream of going but never think you will.
"Even last season he ran some great races.
"He was third in the Irish Champion Hurdle, beaten less than three lengths, he was fourth in the race at Leopardstown at Christmas, and fifth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, having played the role of pacemaker.
"There won't be many 13-year-olds retire with a rating of 154 and I think he's more than earned an honourable retirement at Martinstown (McManus' stud)."
