CAPTAIN CEE Bee impressed in a Cheltenham warm-up last weekend but his big Arkle Trophy rival Sizing Europe is also pleasing trainer Henry De Bromhead as he continues his festival preparations behind closed doors.
Both Irish stars dominate ante-post betting for the Arkle and their second clash of the season is eagerly-awaited by race fans.
Sizing Europe was a Grade One winner at Leopardstown over Christmas but despite that was leapfrogged in the Arkle betting by Captain Cee Bee who appeared to be travelling better when crashing out at the last fence.
Captain Cee Bee was cut to 7 to 2 favourite with Powers after a smooth victory at Naas last Saturday but De Bromhead isn’t changing his original plan to go straight to Cheltenham next month with Sizing Europe.
“He did a nice bit of work this morning and everything is good with him,” the Co Waterford trainer said yesterday. “We will definitely take him away somewhere for a gallop before he runs next. There are a few places we can go to do that.”
Sizing Europe is currently a general 6 to 1 second favourite for Cheltenham.
De Bromhead already has the Irish Arkle in the bag after An Cathaoir Mor’s surprise success at Leopardstown last month and he is considering running the Grade One winner in Sunday’s Grade Two Flyingbolt Chase at Navan while ground conditions remain testing.
“This is his time of year, with the ground the way it is, and he is in bulling form right now,” he said. “I’ve entered him at Navan to have a look at the race but he could also run in the Nas Na Ri at Naas over two and a half the following weekend. Either way, he’ll have to concede a fair old penalty but we’ll probably go for one or the other.”
A total of 10 entries remain in the two-mile Flyingbolt after yesterday’s forfeit stage, including the 2008 Champion Hurdle runner-up Osana who was a course and distance winner earlier in the season.
The Flyingbolt is one of three Grade Two races on Sunday as the build-up to Cheltenham continues with champion trainer Willie Mullins giving Uimhiraceathair entries in both the Flyingbolt and the Ten Up Chase (3m).
A dozen entries remain in the Boyne Hurdle including the former Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition as well as Mourad who has recently been backed in ante-post betting for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Noble Prince is among the Boyne dozen but his trainer, Paul Nolan, yesterday indicated that the horse is more likely to run in Saturday’s Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran instead.
“We are hoping for more to come from Noble Prince. He will probably go to Gowran,” said Nolan who enjoyed the biggest success of his career on Sunday with Joncol’s Hennessy victory at Leopardstown.
“We have him entered in the Champion Hurdle and the World Hurdle but he would more likely run in the one of the handicaps, either the Coral Cup or the County Hurdle,” he added.
