Quintet of quality horses trained by the Jackdaws Castle boss

Second again: Forpadydeplasterer touches down just behind Albertas Run in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree in April 2010Credit: Edward Whitaker

Intersky Falcon

When Intersky Falcon landed the 2002 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton he was O'Neill's first open company Grade 1 winner. What is surprising for a man that has become so famed for his handling of staying chasers, is that like O'Neill's three previous juvenile/novice Grade 1 winners, Intersky Falcon was a two-mile hurdler. The following year he added the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary and a second Christmas Hurdle, from Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster. While he never conquered Cheltenham himself, the best he managed was third in Hardy Eustace's first Champion Hurdle, while he also chased home Harchibald in the 2005 Bula.

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Stuart RileyDeputy news editor

Published on 13 October 2016inNews

Last updated 15:07, 13 October 2016

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