Harty Considers Plan Bee

Edward Harty is mulling plans for Captain Cee Bee after testing ground forced him out at Punchestown on Sunday.

Harty opted not to run his stable star in the Grade Two Byrne Group plc Novice Hurdle after rain and snow pushed conditions to the heavy side.

Although the seven-year-old is entered in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown next week, Harty would want to see an improvement in the ground before considering a run.

"It's not that I didn't want to run him and it's unfortunate for the people that are here as he is one of the horses they had come to see," he said.

"I walked the track about an hour before the first and it was lovely in fairness but when the snow and rain came in the last hour, it deteriorated the ground.

"The three-mile hurdlers opened up the ground and they were conditioned handicappers and they were finishing very tired.

"My horse won't like that ground, I was afraid he would lose his confidence jumping or do something stupid so I decided it would be best for the horse to forgo today.

"He's in the Deloitte next week but that is two and a quarter miles and it is hard to see there being too much improvement in the going, but I'll hope for the best as I wanted a third run over hurdles for experience.

"Any experience in life should be a good one and a bad experience could have a lasting effect.

"He may run on the all-weather at Dundalk."

Captain Cee Bee is a best-priced 10-1 with Ladbrokes for the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

(C) PA Sport