Falcon is O'Neill's Champion pick
Jonjo O’Neill has made it clear that he regards Intersky Falcon as his best chance of winning the Smurfit Champion Hurdle even though the stable’s Rhinestone Cowboy is a shorter price in the betting.
Intersky Falcon, who was beaten by Rigmarole at Wincanton on his last run, is 10-1 with the Big Three for the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, while Rhinestone Cowboy is 7-1.
Speaking on Channel 4, the Jackdaws Castle trainer said: “Intersky Falcon travels well and jumps well. It was disappointing to get beat the other day, but he’s been beaten before and he’ll get beat again.
“He’s my best chance.”
Intersky Falcon has won races from the front and when dropped in, and O’Neill ended any debate on tactics when he added: “He’ll definitely be held up in the Champion.”
The trainer also revealed he is considering running Rhinestone Cowboy in two races at the Festival.
The John Magnier-owned eight-year-old is entered in both the Champion and the Coral Cup, which takes place on the second day. A decision will be taken next week.
Speaking at Newbury on Saturday, O’Neill said: “I honestly don’t know which race he will run in. We’ve had a talk about it and we’re just going to wait and see. We will decide later next week.
“The ground will be a factor as he prefers it on the soft side, so we’ll see what the weather does. We could run him in both.”
Rhinestone Cowboy can be backed at 14-1 for the Coral Cup, which is over two miles five furlongs.
He has done nearly all his winning at around two miles, but easily scored in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Haydock on his reappearance in December.
