From the start of the new NH season, which begins today (May 4), Jonjo O’Neill will continue to train from Jackdaws Castle but in partnership with his son, AJ.
From next Saturday, the new names on the racecard will be “Jonjo and AJ O’Neill”.
Jonjo has trained with huge success at Jackdaws Castle near Temple Guiting since 2001, headlined by winning the Grand National with Don’t Push It, as well as the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Synchronised.
There have been a further 26 Cheltenham Festival winners, including Iris’s Gift, Albertas Run, Taquin Du Seuil, More Of That, Wichita Lineman and Sky Pirate. He has also trained winners at Royal Ascot and won the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
Now it is the start of a new era for the racing legend who said: “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.
“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 commented: “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.”
