CAPTAIN Christy first caught the eye when fifth in the Lloyds Bank (Stayers’) Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 1972, wearing the ‘straw, black cap’ of his owner/trainer Major Joe Pidcock, who had served in WWII with the Royal Army Service Corps in Italy. He may have been a good soldier, but Joe was an indifferent rider, and at the age of 62, he was unable to offer much assistance in the saddle, a fact noted by some good judges.

Prior to Cheltenham, Captain Christy had won a maiden hurdle at Baldoyle, but he also ran out under his corinthian rider at Limerick, taking another four horses with him. Pidcock, realising he was overmatched, decided to sell, and so it was that Captain Christy joined Pat Taaffe for the 1972/73 season sporting the silks of Jane Samuel.