Owner Fidelma Toole and trainer Dermot McLoughlin saw their graded chaser Captain Cj pull up at Cork on Sunday on his return to action. There was better luck for the pair with The Echo Boy (9s into 8s) in the opener at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Captain Cj’s jockey, Conor Maxwell, was on The Echo Boy too, in this Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

From the front the successful Arcadio gelding asserted from before the straight.

He eventually accounted for favourite, Hostage To Fortune and Brawler by sixteen lengths and half a length.

“To be honest I thought he'd win a race before now,” said McLoughlin.

“He was very good in his point-to-points and we liked him. Conor said at the back of the fourth last he thought he had another circuit to go he was going that easy.

“He jumped and galloped. On better ground he's a bit keen and probably settled a bit better on that ground today.

“It was a good performance. We'll step him up and trip won't be an issue either. We'll look for a novice in three or four weeks time. I think that was a nice race.”

B. Browne, rider of Lean Araig trained by Oliver McKiernan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount choked in running.

(GC & EM)