Valiant Falcon Retired

Former top-class hurdler Intersky Falcon will enjoy a deserved retirement after being beaten on his second start over fences at Stratford.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained nine-year-old was pulled up by Tony McCoy before the second-last fence in the Easibed Novices' Chase, won by Yes Sir.

'He's been a smashing horse. He's won the Fighting Fifth, the Christmas Hurdle (twice) and we had a great run with him all the time,' O'Neill told At The Races.

'He didn't really like the fences that much but he's got out in one piece and we're all happy about that.

'We are delighted he's in one piece so we can give him a good retirement.'

Intersky Falcon, owned by interskyracing.com and O'Neill's wife Jacqui, had made a successful chasing debut at Newton Abbot in May. He won 12 of his 36 races earning a total of #390,997 in prize money.

Terry McDermott, spokesman for interskyracing.com, said he felt privileged to have been associated with the horse over his career.

'He's been an absolutely fantastic servant to us, and he's certainly given us the best of our racing days over the past six years,' he explained.

'He won two Christmas Hurdles, a Fighting Fifth and gave us two great wins in Ireland too.

'If I had to pick a favourite memory of all the good ones it would be when he won the (John James) McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary twice ? that is a Grade One race and we had a fantastic time over there.

'We haven't completely finalised his retirement plan yet, but he deserves a good rest and a good home and he'll get that.'

(C) PA Sport