Cee set to return
Captain Cee Bee looks set to finally make his long-awaited return to racecourse action in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase at Naas.
Edward Harty’s 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner has been off the track with injury for over 600 days, but has missed a couple of intended engagements over the past month due to the weather and a slight blood problem.
Thursday’s Naas card will also have to pass a 7.30am inspection if it is to go ahead but after walking the track, Harty is confident his charge will finally be allowed to make his chasing debut.
“I walked the track this morning and it wasn’t too bad at all, so hopefully the meeting will go ahead this time,” said Harty.
“There are one or two boggy patches but that is to be expected and it is as good as you could hope for given the rain we’ve had.
“We want to get him out, get a run into him and see how he goes over fences, but the horse is in great form.
“It’s a decent field, but you don’t get easy beginners’ chases over here and there are certain stages in a horse’s career when the race is more important than the result and this is one of those.
“We’re just hoping that he puts up a good show and Tony (McCoy) gets off him, gives him a pat down the neck and is happy with him. That’s the main thing tomorrow.
“If the meeting is off, he would probably either go to Navan at the weekend or we’d try to get away and give him a school somewhere. Hopefully though, we won’t have to worry about that.”
