Falcon in flying form for Sandown
Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old finished third to Hardy Eustace in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle before coming fourth behind Rhinestone Cowboy at Aintree last time and will be joined in this extended two-mile contest by stablemate Hasty Prince.
Intersky Falcon will be dropping back in trip after racing over half a mile further at Liverpool.
Terry McDermott, for the owners Intersky Racing, is confident of a bold show.
“He’s in great form, Jonjo couldn’t be more pleased with him. He goes there with a great chance and his form certainly stands up on its own,” he said.
“The drop back in trip won’t be a problem as most of his racing has been over two miles until Aintree anyway. The flat track at Liverpool suited him and he might like the track at Sandown too.
“He ran a great race at Aintree though, only getting beat one and three-quarter lengths by Rhinestone Cowboy and Jonjo was convinced he would get the trip.”
Intersky Falcon has enjoyed a fruitful campaign with wins in the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary and the Christmas Hurdle as well as finishing second to Rigmarole at Wincanton.
Intersky Falcon then finished in front of Rigmarole at Cheltenham and he clashes with his old rival again here.
McDermott said: “Rigmarole beat us at Wincanton but we beat him at Cheltenham. Rigmarole is obviously a very good horse and will take all the beating but it’s a competitive race with Westender, Geos and the others. I reckon you could throw a blanket over them at the finish.”
McDermott says this will be Intersky Falcon’s last race before a summer break and he will return for another Champion Hurdle campaign.
“We will come back with the same plan next year. I’m convinced there’s a big race like the Champion Hurdle in him,” he added.
