Former England footballer Terry McDermott led an enthusiastic group from Intersky Racing to the presentation area after the 3-1 chance had beaten Bob What (14-1) and the favourite In Contrast (7-4) by a length and a half over 10 lengths.

Bouncing off the fast ground, Intersky Falcon went to the front early in the back straight and although tiring between the last two hurdles kept going bravely for Cooper to take the winner’s prize of €52,000.

“It’s a dream come true to have a horse like this that is obviously good enough to think of running in the Champion Hurdle next March. It’s like winning the FA Cup for me,” said McDermott in the absence of trainer O’Neill who was suffering from a bout of ’flu.

And Cooper added: “They went steady early on and I quickened it up down the back. Intersky Falcon got a bit tired towards the finish, but to be fair to the horse he probably needed the run.”

A crowd of over 6,500 spectators saw an unfortunate incident at the fifth last hurdle where Timber King in the colours of sponsor J P McManus broke a leg when slipping on landing, then Ballyhampshire Boy slipped on the bend after this obstacle and brought down Just Our Job which broke his pelvis in the incident.

Earlier in the afternoon Jim Bolger’s Shizao (6-1) took the Listed Danehill Dancer Tipperary Stakes in the hands of apprentice Colm O’Donoghue and stablemate Marionnaud (3-1) also justified favouritism in another tight finish to the featured Coolmore Stud Concord Stakes.

Fergus Sweeney on the English raider Patsy’s Double (7-1) went close to making all the running in the Group Three Concord Stakes, but went down by a head as Wayne Smith brought Bolger’s Marionnaud with a determined challenge on the stands’ side to claim her second Group Three success of the season.