The Irish got off to a dream start on day one of the Cheltenham festival when Captain Cee Bee provided Eddie Harty with his first training success at the track.
Sent off at 17/2 the JP McManus owned winner came out on top of a protracted duel with another McManus owned runner Binocular.
Bought as a foal by Harty at the Goffs December National Hunt sale in 2001 for IR#4,500 Captain Cee Bee was ridden by Cheltenham specialist Robert Thornton who only picked up the ride the previous evening.
Harty said afterwards: ?we trained him with this race in mind. He didn?t like the ground and didn?t travel too well early on because of it. We have always loved this horse and he is proving it now.?
Thornton, who was the leading rider at the Festival last year, returned to the winners? enclosure following the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle when successful aboard Katchit (10/1).
Thornton picked up a three-day ban for his use of the whip (incorrect place) aboard Captain Cee Bee and was back in the stewards? room again following the Champion Hurdle where he picked up another four-days for a similar offence.
The Irish challenge in the Champion Hurdle looked strong on the run to the penultimate flight with both Sublimity and Sizing Europe in close contention.
Sublimity was run out of third close home while Sizing Europe broke down and was pulled up after jumping the last. Harchibald crept into the race after halfway, but was beaten as soon as the pace quickened. Catch Me and Farmer Brown never threatened in sixth and eighth respectively.
Both Kalderon and Salford City were withdrawn on account of the softening ground.
Thyne Again ran a blinder for Liam Burke in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy. He cruised up to the leaders in the hands of Davy Russell on the run to three out, but after a slightly flat-footed landing at the second last could only plug on at the one pace behind impressive winner Tidal Bay.
Russell was delighted with the horse?s performance and with the benefit of hindsight this sixth run of the season may have just been one too many.
Patsy Hall travelled supremely well in the hands of Paul Carberry in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase. He challenged for the lead from before the second last fence, but as was the case with Thyne Again he found nothing from the last to come home a tired fourth.
The race went in game style to An Accordion (7/1) for David Pipe.
Nina Carberry guided Garde Champetre (4/1) to an Irish clean sweep in the BGC Cross Country chase. The pair scooted clear of their rivals from the second last for an easy victory followed home by the veteran Native Jack, A New Story and Freneys Well.
This was Nina?s third festival success and brought a smile back to the Irish punters.
The concluding race, the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices? Handicap Hurdle, proved somewhat of an anti-climax from an Irish point of view. The well-touted River Liane was raced wide throughout and held every chance until weakening quickly after jumping the second last flight.
Indian Spring, trained by Edward O?Grady, proved best of the Irish finishing in a remote 4th behind the Paul Carberry ridden winner Crack Away Jack.
Crack Away Jack (14/1), trained by Emma Lavelle, was given a typical Carberry ride coming from last to first, collaring the favourite Ashkazar on the run to the line.
