All roads lead to Cheltenham for Captain

Eddie Harty is relieved Captain Cee Bee came through his prep race for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Naas on Saturday unscathed.

The 2008 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner has returned from a lengthy lay-off seemingly better than ever.

Having won his first start over fences, he then fell at the last in Grade One company when looking set to play a major hand in the finish before winning at the weekend.

"He's fine, he's having a couple of easy days now," said Harty.

"He came out of the race fine, everything has gone exactly how we would have wanted - apart from a little bit of a mistake at the last.

"It was ideal for him, he's jumped a clean round as you wouldn't want him going to a race like the Arkle on the back of a fall.

"Fosters Cross and Beau Michael are no mugs but he won well, it wasn't an egg and spoon race and he's beaten decent horses.

"He's come out of it with his reputation intact and all roads lead to Cheltenham now."

Captain Cee Bee is 4-1 with totesport for the Arkle in March with Sky Bet 7-2.