Falcon the focus of O’Neill confidence
O'Neill took out his first trainer's licence in the 1986/7 season and after a swift ride through the ranks, goes into next week's Cheltenham Festival with a host of live chances to his name.
But it is the Champion Hurdle duo, who occupy the first two places in the betting for next Tuesday's championship contest, which are foremost in O'Neill's mind as the meeting draws nearer. Unbeaten over hurdles, Rhinestone Cowboy heads the market on the strength of some impressive performances in his first season over obstacles.
But while reporting both horses to be in peak form, O'Neill admitted that were he to make an unlikely return to the saddle for the big race, it would be aboard Intersky Falcon.
"Rhinestone Cowboy is in great form but he has only beaten novices and he would ideally prefer a little more cut in the ground," O'Neill said. "I thought he was good at Wincanton but I also thought he was still novicey. You've got to be realistic and he will have to jump up a fair bit if he is going to win the Champion Hurdle. One mistake could make all the difference.
"He's got gears and if he does jump well he will run a very good race. He's as well as he can be and will find out next week if he is good enough.
"But if I had the choice of rides I would go for the experience of Intersky Falcon.
"He is a bit of a monkey at home all right but he is in fantastic form. If the ground is quick it will definitely suit him.
"He is a quick jumper and an improving horse. He is only a handicapper but so are the others. I think Liam Cooper has made the horse really and I think he will run very well."
O'Neill offered up Keen Leader as his banker of the meeting.
The seven-year-old gelding runs in Wednesday's Royal & SunAlliance Chase, although he will also be declared for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup the following afternoon.
"It makes sense as a precaution," said O'Neill, before adding tongue in cheek: "If he wins easily enough we might want to run him in both!"
Keen Leader fell two out in last year's Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle and again when making his debut over fences at Cheltenham last November.
But O'Neill is hopeful that no further problems will arise with his charge's jumping.
"He did his job well at Ascot last time. I know it was a sloppy fall first time this season but he went straight up to Haydock and jumped perfectly," he said.
"He jumps well at home and I don't have any worries on that score although he would obviously like some rain.
"He is a Gold Cup horse for the future and he's got to have a great chance."
O'Neill also revealed that Iris's Gift, another horse unbeaten over hurdles, may have a crack at the big guns in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle, despite his novice status.
Owner Bob Lester reckons that his grey gelding is ready for such a step and the alternative of the Pertemps Hurdle Final may be sidestepped.
"I think he should go for the Pertemps but we will argue it out over the weekend," O'Neill confirmed.
"Bob is a bigger fellow than me so he might well win the argument!
"We kept him to bumpers last year because when we tried to school him over hurdles it was a disaster he kept running through them!
"But he has grown up a lot this season and although he still has his own way of doing things, he's as tough as old boots.
"He won't go for the novices' race (the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle) as we have got three for that Coolnagorna, Sh Boom and Saitensohn."
In total, O'Neill plans to send out a 20-plus team next week, including handicappers such as Quazar (Coral Cup), Putsometnby (Kim Muir) and Shamawan (Grand Annual Chase).
