Tag Archive for: Jonjo O’Neill

Chasing Festival glory now a true family affair for O’Neills

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The legend of Jonjo O’Neill has been built on success at the Cheltenham Festival, but any future triumphs during the busiest week in March will also now bear the hallmarks of his son AJ, as father and son set about writing the next chapter of family history in the Prestbury Park record books.

The man who steered Alverton and the great mare Dawn Run to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory saddled 27 winners in his own right at the Festival and added his name to the blue riband’s roll of honour for a third time when Synchronised stormed home under an inspired AP McCoy in 2012.

Watching on in awe of his father’s achievement that day was a young AJ O’Neill, who 13 years on, and now 25, finds himself ready to saddle his first runners at the Cheltenham Festival.

Jonjo O'Neill (right) with Gold Cup winner Synchronised
Jonjo O’Neill (right) with Gold Cup winner Synchronised (PA Wire)

Added to the training licence in a move that signalled a new era at Jackdaws Castle, he has already acquired many great memories of National Hunt racing’s most important four days during his younger years.

However, he is now ready to play his role as a vital cog in one of the sport’s great dynasties as O’Neill Racing – an organisation that is a true family affair, with brother Jonjo Jr the stable jockey and mother Jacqui guiding the ship from the shadows – searches for further glory on racing’s most hallowed turf.

AJ O’Neill said: “I’m really looking forward to it and I’m itching to get on the way really. Hopefully we’ve got a few with chances and they seem happy and healthy at home, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ve got some great memories of the Festival, with Sky Pirate the most recent one. I was left at home that day as it was during lockdown, but there were some great celebrations.

“I have lots of memories growing up around Cheltenham – and kind of growing up locally, the whole calendar revolves around the Festival from a social perspective as well, and it’s always a really exciting week.

AJ O’Neill at Jackdaws Castle
AJ O’Neill at Jackdaws Castle (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Synchronised was a magical day and I was just about getting old enough to understand what it meant and then there was the likes of Holywell, who won twice there, and More Of That, another good winner of dad’s, there are a few that are really memorable and hopefully we can now go and make some more memories.

“It’s a huge team effort and we have a great team at Jackdaws who keep the horses happy and healthy throughout the year – and Jonjo will be riding a lot of ours, and then you have mum, who is massive and keeps the whole thing on the road really – we’re lucky to have her holding us all together.”

Leading the quest for the first Festival success as a training partnership is Springwell Bay, the high-class novice chaser who gave a glimpse of his potential at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

High up in the betting for both the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase over the same course and distance later on the day three card, the O’Neill team are set to make a late call over which is the more winnable option.

Springwell Bay in action at Cheltenham
Springwell Bay in action at Cheltenham (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

A repeat of his New Year’s Day heroics would make the eight-year-old a tough nut to crack at a venue where he has enjoyed plenty of match practice this season.

“We’ll see a bit closer to the time but both races are two-and-a-half-mile handicap chases and we’ve just got to hope we pick the right one,” continued O’Neill.

“He’s been reasonably busy in the early part of the season, so we said we’d give him plenty of time to freshen up after New Year’s Day.

“We were very pleased with the way he won that day but maybe the distance slightly flattered him. The handicapper certainly took a good swing at him but we couldn’t be happier with him and look forward to him running at the Festival.”

Festival hope Crebilly during a visit to Jackdaws Castle
Festival hope Crebilly during a visit to Jackdaws Castle (Joe Giddens/PA)

Crebilly went close to giving O’Neill Snr one last Festival winner in his own name when second to Shakem Up’arry in the Plate 12 months ago and it will be the Ultima where he will be tasked with going one better this time around.

Meanwhile, heading the betting for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase is Johnnywho, who will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Sunnyhillboy by winning the Thursday finale for the Jackdaws operation and leading owner JP McManus.

O’Neill added: “Hopefully, they can both run well and Crebilly obviously ran well there last year. He hasn’t been as consistent as we would have liked this year but hopefully he remembers how to gallop around Cheltenham and we’re looking forward to Johnnywho as well.”

O’Neill duo being lined up for post-Cheltenham targets

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Two of the O’Neill stable’s talented prospects are likely to skip the Cheltenham Festival in favour of alternative targets further down the line.

Bill Joyce, who contested the Champion Bumper at the meeting last year, made a pleasing start to life as a novice hurdler when winning his first two assignments.

The latter of those runs was a Grade Two success in the Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown, after which he stepped up to Grade One level for the Challow at Newbury to finish third to The New Lion.

His next outing was a return to Grade Two class at Cheltenham, where he was third again behind Fergal O’Brien’s Sixmilebridge and Potters Charm from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard.

Bill Joyce is not pencilled in to return to Prestbury Park for the showpiece meeting in March, however, with connections preferring to give him a break and focus on Aintree instead.

Jonjo O’Neill jr, in the saddle each time this season, told Sporting Life in the second of their David Power Jockeys’ Cup podcast series: “We felt he ran a little bit flat at Cheltenham, he just didn’t gallop to the line like he did when he won at Sandown. Maybe the Challow Hurdle took a bit more out of him than we thought.

“We were looking towards the Albert Bartlett, but Cheltenham and Aintree are only 19 days away from each other this year instead of a month, which means if you’re running at Cheltenham, you’re going to be having a hard race and you’re probably not going to make Aintree.

“So, we will probably freshen him up instead.”

O’Neill added: “He’s surpassed what we thought he would do as a hurdler, as we always thought he was a strapping chaser.

“So, we don’t really want to go to the well too many times with him and he’s had four runs already this year. He could head to Punchestown after Aintree.”

Red Dirt Road, who also races in the white and red colours of Dan Walker, is set to head to Uttoxeter the day after the Cheltenham Festival, with connections targeting a win in a valuable £100,000 handicap hurdle on Midlands Grand National Day – and O’Neill eyeing up 10 points in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup.

He explained: “Red Dirt Road loves the mud and he’s come out of Saturday’s win at Sandown well. He’s not qualified for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, but the money’s nearly the same for that and the Uttoxeter race.

“We always thought a bit of the horse, he’s just not been that easy to train, but thankfully this year, he’s done pretty well.

“He’s only an eight-year-old, but he beat Corbetts Cross in a point-to-point and has got good form in the book.

“We always thought he had ability – he obviously missed all of last year – but he’s paying it back now.”

Newbury target for talented Tellherthename

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Tellherthename will return to action at Newbury next month in the race formally known as the Betfair Hurdle.

Currently listed as the Newbury Handicap Hurdle, the valuable handicap was an intended target for the talented six-year-old during his novice hurdling campaign for Ben Pauling, but was declared a non-runner on the day due to the unsuitably deep ground.

He would go on to run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the spring and after making his seasonal return for his new training team of Jonjo and AJ O’Neill in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, Newbury’s £155,000 contest has entered the equation again following an interrupted campaign to date.

“Tellherthename has been a bit stop-start, he picked up a bug which stopped him a little bit and he wasn’t anywhere near fit when he ran in the Fighting Fifth, but the guys needed to get a run into him,” explained owner Andrew Megson.

“We then found a benign tumour in him. He’s perfectly OK and it can be cleared up by injection, but it just means you have to go easy for a few weeks – the vets said he clearly had it for a long time.

“He’s back and ready to go and hopefully will go to Newbury on Super Saturday.”

Tellherthename was a staying-on fourth behind Sir Gino in his Newcastle return, with connections taking plenty of encouragement from the winner’s subsequent ultra-impressive chasing debut at Kempton over Christmas.

However, it could prove to be a case of history repeated if conditions are testing at Newbury on February 8.

“What we won’t do is risk him on poor ground, he doesn’t get through it. But everything he has done at home on the gallops, he is everything we hoped he would be,” Megson added.

“To do what he did in the Fighting Fifth when he is not 100 per cent is fantastic given Sir Gino looks some horse – it’s amazing when a horse like Constitution Hill might not be the best horse in the yard.”

Springwell Bay stars for the O’Neill team at Cheltenham

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Springwell Bay stayed on strongly to run out an impressive winner of the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Trained by Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, he was sent off the 11-4 joint-favourite for the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest after winning a Listed race first time out at Chepstow, before placing at the Cheltenham meetings in November and December.

Ridden with plenty of patience by Jonjo O’Neill jnr, Springwell Bay was travelling exceptionally well on the turn for home as the stride of the pacesetting Seddon just started to shorten a little in front.

The eight-year-old easily closed down the leader when asked, staying upsides until asserting his authority at the last, in a race worth £56,950 to the winner.

He coasted home a nine-length scorer, with Marble Sands swooping late to deny the game Seddon of second place by two and three-quarter lengths.

The winning rider told Racing TV: “I would say the race probably fell apart a little bit, they went a good gallop in the ground and obviously Seddon got tired then at the second-last.

“I wasn’t as fluent as I would have liked to have been all the way round, he was a little bit careful over a few jumps, I think the ground was probably just getting to him, so I had to just change tack and hunt him into it.

“We always thought he was a classy horse and it’s nice he’s got his day in the sun.

“He’s one of those horses you could go two or three (miles), he definitely gets three miles as he got it at Musselburgh last year, but just that race in November, he absolutely hacked and was just far too keen in a better race where they go a proper gallop.

“I’d have no problems with him over three or on slower ground over two, he’s just one of those horses that is probably quite versatile, but I think two and a half is his trip.”

Jonjo O’Neill looking forward to playing novice aces over Christmas

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Jonjo and A J O’Neill will send two of their brightest prospects into Grade One company over the Christmas period, with both Bill Joyce and Roadlesstravelled aiming to back up the early impression they have made over hurdles.

Bill Joyce was an impressive winner of the Grade Two Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown from the highly-regarded Quebecois. He will now head to Newbury on December 28 for the Coral Challow Hurdle.

“Bill Joyce won well the other day and we’re thinking of the Challow with him,” said Jonjo O’Neill.

“He’s earned the step up, we might as well have a go now and see where we are going with him.

“He coped with the testing ground at Sandown, but the good thing about him is that we don’t really know a lot about him yet, we haven’t worked out quite what his best conditions might be – that’s quite a nice thing, really.

“So we’ll throw him in at the deep end and see where we are going.”

Roadlesstravelled had his form boosted at Cheltenham
Roadlesstravelled had his form boosted at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

Roadlesstravelled has been doing his winning over two miles and landed a Grade Two at Haydock most recently.

Behind him that day was Dan Skelton’s Country Mile, who has subsequently boosted the form emphatically at Cheltenham. But O’Neill is not getting too carried away.

He is set to be in action Aintree on Boxing Day in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle (formerly the Tolworth).

“Roadlesstravelled looks a bit sharper and he’ll go to Aintree on Boxing Day as long as the ground is not too bad,” said O’Neill.

“His form was boosted the other day, but I’m just not sure about that race, as the leader went very quick.

“But listen, I hope it’s as good as it looked as we were put up 3lb by the handicapper because of it!”

Trelawne sees off Iroko in Haydock thriller

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Kim Bailey was thrilled to see Trelawne come of age after prevailing in a thrilling tussle with Iroko in the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase at Haydock.

The Andoversford handler has never made any secret of the regard in which he holds Trelawne, who was last seen suffering a heavy early fall as a leading fancy for the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, a race won by his stablemate Chianti Classico.

While Bailey revealed his eight-year-old’s confidence was knocked by that spill, there was no sign of it on Merseyside as he travelled and jumped with elan on the front end under Tom Bailey.

Jonjo O’Neill jnr attempted to play his cards late aboard the similarly promising 11-8 favourite Iroko, who drew alongside 7-2 shot Trelawne on the run-in, but the latter refused to yield and passed the post half a length to the good.

“I was delighted with him, we’ve been praying for the rain for a long time. Yes we’ve had our issues, but he’s a very talented individual and he was a grown up horse today,” said Bailey.

“He’s always had the talent and I just think he’s that year older. That fall at Cheltenham frightened him and he was a very sore horse for a long time afterwards, so we gave him a long time to get over it and I just feel he’s come back a different horse from the summer.

“He’s worked well and done everything right. He went to Cheltenham with a great chance, I hated having two runners in the race and when this horse fell I’m afraid I didn’t see the other horse do a whole circuit as I was watching him. I love him.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “This horse has to have soft ground and there’s a big race in him somewhere along the way.

“I think the Cotswold Chase (at Cheltenham in January) would suit him really well, but we’ve got a long way to go yet. He was only rated 144 today, the handicapper will have a few words to say after today, but he’s a progressive horse.

“He’s got a few quirks, but that’s why he’s a good horse.”

Roadlesstravelled looks an exciting prospect for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill to go to war with judged on an all-the-way victory in the Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Newton Novices’ Hurdle.

Roadlesstravelled (right) was an impressive winner at Haydock
Roadlesstravelled (right) was an impressive winner at Haydock (Ian Hodgson/PA)

The five-year-old cost his connections a pretty penny at £215,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point in May of last year, but he has made a fine start under rules after 17 months off the track.

After following up a successful hurdling debut at Market Rasen with a dominant victory at Wetherby three weeks ago, Roadlesstravelled was a 7-4 favourite to complete his hat-trick at Grade Two level and was soon bowling along in front in the hands of Jonjo O’Neill Jnr.

Harry Skelton and Country Mile was the only one able to go with the leader in the home straight and already looked to be coming off second-best when making a mistake at the final obstacle.

The result was never in doubt thereafter, with Roadlesstravelled finding plenty on the run-in to score by three lengths.

While keen not to get carried away, there was a glint in his trainer’s eye afterwards, as he said: “He’s in good form and likes the good ground. We’ll let him do the talking really, but he’s a nice horse to have.

“He jumped OK, but I think he’d be a bit slicker on good ground. Personally I think he’ll get further, but he’s doing alright at two miles, so we’ll keep him at that for now.

“If you were to sit on him on Monday morning you’d know you were sitting on something as he’s fairly lively, but he’s a great horse with a good attitude and just loves life.”

Steel Ally continued his progress under Dylan Johnston
Steel Ally continued his progress under Dylan Johnston (Ian Hodgson/PA)

Paddy Power and Betfair introduced Roadlesstravelled into their Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market at 40-1, but O’Neill is in no rush to make firm plans, adding: “Let’s see how we go, I would say we’ll miss the heavy ground over the winter and bring him back after that.

“I wouldn’t mind looking at a Betfair Hurdle, but he’d have to have another run in between, so we’ll see what the weather does.”

In deteriorating conditions, Dr T J Eckleburg was a 14-1 winner of the Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase for Evan Williams and Conor Ring, while Steel Ally continued the good recent run of trainer Sam Thomas and jockey Dylan Johnston in the Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle.

The latter was a 6-1 shot off the back of finishing second to stablemate Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and displayed a willing attitude to see off the challenge of Beat The Bat by three lengths.

“He’s a nice horse who was on a career-high mark and stepping up in trip. The whole way here I was wary of the rain falling, but he dug in and did it well. He’ll be better on nicer ground,” said Johnston.

AJ O’Neill to join father Jonjo on training licence

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Jonjo O’Neill is confident son AJ will bring “new energy and new ideas” to the Jackdaws Castle operation after being added to the training licence ahead of next season.

O’Neill senior has enjoyed great success since setting up in 2001, with Gold Cup hero Synchronised featuring among 26 Cheltenham Festival winners, while Don’t Push It provided him with Grand National glory at Aintree.

However, at the age of 72, the former two-time champion jockey believes the time is right to freshen things up via this new partnership.

He told his stable website: “AJ has been invaluable to me over the past few years as my assistant and this is a natural progression, really.

“We remain very ambitious here and I’m very excited to be sharing the licence with him. As a family, we have always been a great team and I am very proud of that.

Horse Racing – 2010 John Smith’s Grand National – Day Three – Aintree Racecourse
Jonjo O’Neill with JP McManus and Tony McCoy after winning the Grand National with Don’t Push It (David Davies/PA).

“AJ will bring so much to the new partnership, new energy and new ideas and he has always been an excellent horseman – but then I would say that, wouldn’t I?

“I know he is keen to have some more runners on the Flat, as well as broadening the appeal of O’Neill Racing.”

AJ O’Neill added: “I enjoy riding as an amateur for the yard but training a winner gives me a different sort of buzz.

“I love the whole process, all the way through from the sales to the racecourse and the thrill it brings to the team and all of our owners.

“We continue to invest heavily to maintain our state-of-the-art facilities and are very proud of the way we look after our horses.

“I can’t wait to get going.”

Monbeg Genius among latest Grand National defections

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Monbeg Genius, previously strongly fancied for Randox Grand National glory, has been scratched from the race at the latest confirmation stage.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained chaser has run disappointingly in his last two races, at Kelso and in the Ultima at Cheltenham when he was pulled up, and has been taken out along with 16 others.

He is owned by Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman, who had a restraint order placed on some assets, although Monbeg Genius was not affected by that decision and has continued running in the colours of Barrowman Racing Limited.

Original top weight Hewick had already been scratched and others higher up in the list to come out include Asterion Forlonge, Threeunderthrufive, Letsbeclearaboutit, James Du Berlais and Longhouse Poet.

The others taken out on Tuesday were Busselton, Diol Ker, Macs Charm, Dunboyne, Mister Coffey, Moroder, Gevrey, Fiddlerontheroof, Highland Hunter and Revels Hill.

Those defectors mean Dan Skelton’s mare Galia Des Liteaux currently sits in the final guaranteed spot of 34th on the list ahead of the five-day confirmation stage on April 8 and final declarations on April 11.

Currently six horses from number 33 to 38 on the list are due to carry 10st 6lb, with their current handicap marks at the time of elimination to decide the order of balloting. Should that still be identical, it will then come down to a random ballot.

O’Neill to consider Cheltenham spin for Monbeg Genius

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Jonjo O’Neill is not ruling out a Cheltenham Festival appearance for Monbeg Genius after a disappointing effort at Kelso on Saturday.

The eight-year-old was among the leading lights in the ante-post market for the Randox Grand National prior to his outing in the Premier Chase, which was a first run since finishing third in the Coral Gold Cup back in December.

Minor setbacks scuppered his intended runs since and there was concern his season could be curtailed after assets linked to owners Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman were made the subject of a restraint order, but the British Horseracing Authority subsequently confirmed Monbeg Genius would not be affected.

Sent off a 5-2 chance at Kelso, Monbeg Genius trailed home in fifth place, beaten 38 lengths by Thunder Rock, and O’Neill could give him a chance to redeem himself in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Tuesday week, a race in which he finished third last year.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s fine but it was disappointing really, we were expecting a better show than that, to be fair.

“He’ll have to come on a lot, but he’s come out of it fine and we might even give him another spin at Cheltenham, we’ll see. It wasn’t the plan but he might come on a bit more.

“The practice might help, he didn’t jump great yesterday, he didn’t do anything that we hoped he would, so let’s see how he is.

“He’s in at Cheltenham, so we’ll have a look and see.”

Monbeg Genius is now a best-priced 33-1 shot for Aintree on April 13.

O’Neill is also keeping his options open with exciting bumper prospect Mister Meggit following his facile success in the Download The Racecourse App Raceday Ready Open NH Flat Race at Doncaster.

Having won by a dozen lengths on his Carlisle debut in November, the six-year-old hacked up by four and three-quarter lengths at 8-15 at Town Moor following a 119-day absence.

Coral cut Mister Meggit from 25-1 to 16-1 for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and O’Neill said: “When I was looking at him in the paddock, I was thinking ‘what are we doing here?’ because he’s a shelly little horse. But he’s obviously got an engine and I was very pleased with that.

“It’s hard to know with a four-runner race, but he did it really sweetly at Carlisle as well. He doesn’t show you up at home or anything like that but when he gets down here, he’s obviously a fair horse.

“We’ll see how he is, there’s Liverpool as well. He’s a very shelly horse, so we’ll just have to see how he comes out of it. He did look good, though.”

Kelso ‘perfect timing’ for National fancy Monbeg Genius

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Jonjo O’Neill views Saturday’s bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso as an ideal stepping-stone to Aintree for his leading Grand National contender Monbeg Genius.

The eight-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since finishing third in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in early December, subsequently missing planned engagements in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and the Classic Chase at Warwick.

There was concern his season could be curtailed after assets linked to owners Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman were made the subject of a restraint order, but the British Horseracing Authority subsequently confirmed Monbeg Genius would not be affected and he is able to travel to the Scottish Borders this weekend as he looks to enhance his National claims.

Jonjo O'Neill has high hopes for Monbeg Genius
Jonjo O’Neill has high hopes for Monbeg Genius (John Walton/PA)

“He’s had a few little issues, nothing serious but they were enough to make us miss the Welsh National and the Classic Chase at Warwick. He’s back on track now and hopefully all goes well,” said O’Neill.

“This looks a nice race for him, the conditions suit and it’s perfect timing with Aintree in mind – and he’s in good form, so we’re as hopeful as we can be.

“It’s a great race and the rest of the card is brilliant, fair play to Kelso for putting on a card like this.”

Monbeg Genius won three of his five starts as a novice over fences last season and also finished third behind Grand National hero Corach Rambler and leading Gold Cup contender Fastorslow in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He again holds an Ultima entry but appears unlikely to turn up at Prestbury Park in less than a fortnight’s time.

O’Neill added: “He wouldn’t go to Cheltenham now. If everything goes according to plan, it will be straight to Aintree. He’s been left in just in case he tips up early or something on Saturday.”

It is 14 years since the Jackdaws Castle handler claimed Grand National glory with Don’t Push It, who memorably provided perennial champion jockey Tony McCoy with his first and only victory in the race.

O’Neill feels Monbeg Genius ticks plenty of boxes in terms of the world’s most famous steeplechase, even if his stamina needs to be taken on trust.

He said: “You can’t be confident a horse is ever going to stay the National trip until they try it, because there’s no other race like it, but he’s the type to do it if there is one. He’s a grand, simple horse, who just gallops and jumps.

“He might get to the Melling Road and run out of air, as they say, but you take your chance.

“He’s a different type to Don’t Push It, he had a touch of class, whereas this lad is a grand, honest to God horse who just might lack a bit of class, but what he lacks in class, he puts in through energy and he jumps well. You need a good horse now to win the National.

“We were disappointed when he didn’t win the Ultima last year, but it didn’t work out too bad did it!”

The admirable Aye Right is shooting for Kelso glory
The admirable Aye Right is shooting for Kelso glory (PA)

Monbeg Genius’ rivals include the admirable veteran Aye Right, trained in partnership by Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford.

The 11-year-old has been placed on each of his three starts so far this term and another bold bid is anticipated from his connections.

“He’s in good form and he likes Kelso. It’s not quite level weights, but he’s much better off at the weights against other horses than he normally is, so it will be interesting,” said Graham.

“I’m quite excited about it, no doubt there’ll still be one too good for us – there’s always something!

“I think he has only run two bad races and it’s fairly obvious he likes to dominate the race and make a good pace. We won’t be changing anything on Saturday, as we’ve tried other things like holding up out the back and he does not have much speed at the end of a race, but is fairly relentless through it.”

Thunder Rock represents Olly Murphy
Thunder Rock represents Olly Murphy (John Walton/PA)

Nick Alexander saddles his five-time course winner Elvis Mail, while Olly Murphy is looking forward to giving Thunder Rock another opportunity to prove his stamina over this three-mile distance.

He said: “I’m not so sure he stays three miles, but we want to give it one last go, hopefully on a bit of nicer ground in a smallish field.

“He’ll be dropped in and ridden to run well. If he stays the trip, I think he’ll run well and he’s overpriced, but we’re kind of having a go more so than knowing he’ll definitely stay.

“The way he finishes off over two-and-a-half, you’d think he definitely would stay the trip, but I don’t think he has the couple of times we’ve tried thus far. Maybe he’s a year older and a year stronger and maybe he might do now, and I don’t think the ground is going to be too bad up there.”

Minella Drama (Donald McCain), La Renommee (Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole) and Cooper’s Cross (Stuart Coltherd) complete the field.

O’Neill team backing Crebilly to be a Plate smasher

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Hopes are high in the Jonjo O’Neill camp that Crebilly can provide the Jackdaws Castle yard with a first Cheltenham Festival winner since Sky Pirate in 2021.

O’Neill has trained 27 winners at the showpiece meeting in all and sits fifth on the list of current trainers bidding for more.

There was a time that O’Neill rarely left empty handed and as recently as 2014 he enjoyed a treble when Taquin Du Seuil, More Of That and Holywell were all victorious.

Crebilly is ante-post favourite for the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase having comfortably accounted for Tahmuras last time out, while he gained valuable Cheltenham experience with two runs at Prestbury Park earlier in the season. In the first of those he fell two out when upsides Ginny’s Destiny, who is a strong fancy for the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase.

“We were very happy with the way he was running first time out this season but unfortunately he fell,” said O’Neill’s son and assistant, AJ.

“It wasn’t a reflection on his jumping, he’d actually jumped very well but he just crumpled on landing really.

“He wasn’t quite as fluent the next day (fourth) with his jumping, but when he won the other day he showed a bit more like we were hoping to see first and second time.

“Hopefully he’ll go well in the Plate and we’re happy with him.”

Springwell Bay looks to have a solid chance in the Pertemps
Springwell Bay looks to have a solid chance in the Pertemps (Nigel French/PA)

Another live chance for the yard is Springwell Bay in the Pertemps Final, having qualified when second at Musselburgh last time out.

“We were hoping for an indication of which way to go with him when he ran at Cheltenham when heavy ground and top-weight probably just got the better of him,” said O’Neill.

“We felt if he was good enough for the Stayers’ Hurdle he’d have been good enough to take on those conditions.

“Since stepping him up in trip he hasn’t won, but he was second the last day and probably showed a bit more of what we were looking for and it showed he probably does get the trip. Hopefully it doesn’t get too testing.”

Johnnywho (left) found the trip too sharp last time out
Johnnywho (left) found the trip too sharp last time out (David Davies/PA)

Johnnywho has run two solid races in graded company since winning first time out over hurdles and holds each-way claims in the Albert Bartlett.

“Johnnywho stayed very well at Newbury, he hit a bit of a flat spot before staying on strongly in the Challow,” said O’Neill.

“We hoped he’d run well at Cheltenham the last day but he got a bit outpaced over that trip (fourth to Gidleigh Park) so stepping him up in trip looked the logical thing to do.

“He’s yet to prove it, but we were very happy as the ground was very testing at Newbury. Off the back of that we’d be hopeful.”

Monbeg Genius to test National claims at Kelso

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Jonjo O’Neill has pencilled in a trip to Kelso for leading Randox Grand National contender Monbeg Genius.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Friday the gelding would be permitted to run as he will not be affected by a restraint order placed on the assets of owners Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman.

Monbeg Genius, who carries the Barrowman Racing silks, was last seen finishing third in the Coral Gold Cup back in December, with a setback scuppering any plans for a run subsequently.

However, O’Neill reports his charge to be nearing a return, with the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso on March 2 – plus a possible Cheltenham Festival stop – under consideration en route to Aintree in April.

“He was always going to run as far as I was concerned and no one told me or him!” said O’Neill.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill has his eyes fixed on Aintree with Monbeg Genius
Trainer Jonjo O’Neill has his eyes fixed on Aintree with Monbeg Genius (John Walton/PA)

“He might go to Kelso for the Listed chase and then hopefully he will go for the National – that’s the plan.

“He might go back to the Ultima, but we will see how we get on at Kelso first. That would probably be a bit too close together, but we will see.

“He seems fine in himself at the minute anyway and we will take each race as it comes.

“We will go to Kelso and then take it from there. He’s in good form, jumps well and is a good stayer.”

Monbeg Genius is as low as 14-1 joint-favourite for the Grand National on April 13.

National hope Monbeg Genius cleared to continue racing

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Leading Randox Grand National contender Monbeg Genius will not be affected by a restraint order placed on the assets of owners Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman, the British Horseracing Authority has confirmed.

Assets linked to the couple have been frozen, as a National Crime Agency investigation into PPE firm Medpro continues.

According to the Financial Times, about £75million of assets, including a townhouse in Belgravia and an estate on the Isle of Man, have either been frozen or restrained following an application by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Monbeg Genius, officially owned by Barrowman Racing Limited, was third behind Corach Rambler and Fastorslow in the Ultima Handicap at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and was last seen finishing in the same position in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in early December.

He has since missed potential outings in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and the Classic Chase at Warwick due to a setback.

The BHA said last month it was looking into how a court order would affect the couple’s equine string and they have now been cleared to race.

A statement released by the ruling body on Friday read: “Having been made aware of a restraint order on a number of assets belonging to Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman, the BHA liaised with relevant parties in order to understand the potential implications this had for their involvement in racing.

“Following these discussions, the BHA can confirm that horses in the ownership of Barrowman Racing Ltd are not affected by the restraint order and are therefore permitted to continue to race.”

O’Neill said last month he hoped Monbeg Genius would come right in time for Aintree, but that he would need a run beforehand to make the cut for the race, which this year will have a reduced field of 34 runners.

His ante-post price for the National on April 13 ranges from 14-1 to 20-1.

O’Neill retains Aintree hopes for Monbeg Genius

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Jonjo O’Neill has not given up hope of getting Monbeg Genius back on track in time to contest the Randox Grand National, despite being forced to miss another big-race engagement at Warwick this weekend.

Last seen finishing third in the in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in early December, the eight-year-old is the 14-1 co-favourite with Paddy Power for the Aintree spectacular alongside last year’s first and third, Corach Rambler and Gaillard Du Mesnil.

However, a minor setback led to him not taking up his place as ante-post favourite for the Welsh Grand National over the festive period and he will also miss Saturday’s Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase.

“He doesn’t run on Saturday, he’s still not right, he’s not recovered,” O’Neill said at Catterick on Thursday.

“He’ll be all right, but I don’t know when he’ll be able to run. He hasn’t done any work, so he won’t be running for a little while I’d say.”

The Jackdaws Castle trainer admits he will need to get another run and potentially another win into his charge to ensure he makes the cut for what will be a 34-runner National for the first time this year.

He added: “He still could be a Grand National horse, it’s a few months away. That is still in the back of our minds obviously, but he needs to come right first. There’s no point running them if they’re not right.

“He will have to run before then (Aintree), he probably needs to win to get into the weights now the field has been cut down.

“If he can’t go there, he could go for the Scottish National or Midlands National or something like that. He has plenty of time, but he’s a horse for those races.”

O’Neill forced to put plans on hold for Are U Wise To That

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Jonjo O’Neill’s Are U Wise To That is having a short spell out of action having picked up a cut when winning at Cheltenham recently.

The six-year-old is the winner of four of just seven races under rules and looked a novice going places at the December meeting.

Raised 5lb for his win to a mark of 130, plans are currently on hold while he recuperates.

“Unfortunately he’s given himself a nasty little gash so he’ll be out for a while,” said O’Neill.

“He will be OK, but just to prevent infections it needed washing out. It shouldn’t take too long if all goes the right way.

“He did everything sweet at Cheltenham and he jumped away grand, hopefully he’ll be a nice horse.”

In the same blue and yellow silks of Michael Geoghegan, Inch House has enjoyed a good first half of the season, winning twice at Newbury.

“He’s going OK. He might develop into one for Ultima. We’ll know better where we are going after his next run,” said O’Neill.

“I’m not sure where that will be as he wouldn’t want the ground bottomless so we’ll see how we go.”

At Newbury on Wednesday Fortunate Man cruised to victory for JP McManus, a much better outcome than when unseating at the third flight on his racecourse debut.

“To be honest I thought he’d run well at Ffos Las as that was an easier race. At Newbury you never know what you might bump into,” said O’Neill.

“The ground was very heavy there and I’d say that might have played into his strengths. It was nice to see him do it anyway.

“I’d say he might be ground dependent, but hopefully he’s a nice horse.”