Intersky Falcon (foaled 19 February 1997) is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing.
Intersky Falcon's most notable achievement was to record back-to-back victories in the Christmas Hurdle, decisively defeating the reigning Champion Hurdler on each occasion.
Intersky Falcon is a chestnut gelding with a narrow white blaze bred by Fulling Mill Farm and Stud.
[11] Four weeks later he finished second when favourite at the same course but then won minor novice events at Sedgefield Racecourse in September (wearing blinkers for the first time) and November.
In the early part of 2002, Intersky Falcon, though still technically a novice, began to compete against more experienced rivals in handicap races.
[12] After finishing sixth behind Latimer's Place at Sandown in March he was sent to Aintree Racecourse in April and started at odds of 10/1 for the Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by Cooper, and carrying the minimum weight of 140 pounds, he took the lead approaching the third last hurdle, he quickly went clear of the field and won very easily by fifteen lengths from Idaho d'Ox.
[14] In the weight-for-age Masai Hurdle at Sandown later that month he took the lead 75 yards from the finish but was beaten a short head by the rallying Copeland.
On 4 May, Intersky Falcon carried top weight of 164 pounds in the Grade III Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park Racecourse.
Starting at odds of 11/2 in a field of eleven, he appeared outpaced three hurdles out, but rallied under strong driving from Cooper to take the lead in the closing stages and won by half a length from Granalmo.
[15] In October 2002, Intersky Falcon began the new season with a trip to Ireland where he started 3/1 second favourite for the Grade II John James McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary Racecourse.
[18] Intersky Falcon was expected to start favourite for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown Racecourse in January but was withdrawn after contacting a respiratory infection: according to O'Neill he "didn't scope clean".
[19] On 11 March Intersky Falcon made his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival when he started 5/1 third favourite behind Rhinestone Cowboy (also trained by O'Neill) and Rooster Booster for the Champion Hurdle.
Before the race, O'Neill expressed the opinion that Intersky Falcon was more likely to win than Rhinestone Cowboy saying that the horse was "a complete one-off" and adding; "The improvement he has made has been amazing.
[24] At Kempton Park's Boxing Day meeting, Intersky Falcon was matched against the reigning Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster and the improving four-year-old Sporazene as he attempted to repeat his 2002 success in the Christmas Hurdle.
[28] In the Aintree Hurdle a month later he finished fourth behind Rhinestone Cowboy, Rooster Booster and Westender, beaten le than two lengths by the winner.