Our Team

Jonjo is a native of Castletownroche in County Cork and moved to the UK to further his career.

Based principally in the North of England he won 900 races and was Champion Jockey twice. His distinguished career in the saddle included riding the mare Dawn Run to win the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup; he also achieved success on the Flat winning the richest handicap, the Ebor at York, on the legendary Sea Pigeon. Amongst the trophies collected from his multiple high-level successes as a jockey and trainer displayed in the owner’s suite at Jackdaws Castle are several mementoes of less euphoric occasions when he was the victim of falls and the ensuing fractures. Jonjo has also recovered from cancer and continues to help and support the charities which against it.

As a trainer Jonjo started out in Cumbria, where he welcomed the arrival of his three children Louise, Gilli & Tom from his first marriage and very much enjoys being a grandfather to his seven grandchildren.

Later, he moved south to use the bespoke facilities at Jackdaws Castle. He has sent out many top-level winners over the years including Synchronised to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Don’t Push It to win the Grand National. The latter horse required very careful handling to keep him happy and healthy in order to achieve his destiny. Jonjo remains the only person who has both ridden and trained the winners of both the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Having worked alongside Jonjo, learning the trade for a number of years, whilst simultaneously completing his Batchelor of Arts in Business & Management and holding an amateur jockey’s license, AJ decided to retire from the saddle (bowing out with a 33% strike rate in early 2024). AJ went to complete his trainers license and joined Jonjo to start O’Neill Racing with a joint license in May 2024. Since joining the license in May 2024, AJ had trained his first Cheltenham winner by November of the same year.

Away from training, AJ enjoys buying & repairing watches, playing squash, travelling with friends and spending time with his dog Rocky!

Jacqui, is the backbone of the O’Neill Racing organisation. The daughter of a local farming family and a keen equestrienne in her own right, Jacqui supports her husband and AJ, the joint licence holders, and Jonjo Jr as stable jockey and provides a unique brand of hospitality, welcome and care to all our owners and staff.

What is your favourite horse/horses? I can’t pick a favourite!

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I started out at Kildare Racing college, after this I went to work at Michael Hourigans and was there 7 years as conditional jockey. I moved to the UK and was conditional jockey at Nicky Henderson’s. Jonjo kindly gave me some rides whilst I worked at other yards, and I enjoyed some good winners with him including the Martel listed hurdle at Aintree Festival with Sudden Shock. After retiring, I worked for the Jockey Club for a bit before joining here as head lad in 2008.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Working with the horses.

What do you like to do outside of racing? When I can, I enjoy going home to see my family in Ireland.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Holly

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I was born into racing. I used to be a jockey and ride for Jonjo, I was lucky enough to have a Cheltenham Festival and Punchestown Festival winner with him, unfortunately an injury brought on my retirement, after that I became a Head lad. I’ve been at O’Neill Racing since 2002.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Working with the young horses and seeing them progress.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Country walks with my family and dog.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Soaring Glory & Springwell Bay

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I was involved with retraining racehorses at home and got interested in the racing side before they retired. I’ve been at O’Neill Racing since 2018.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Riding out and seeing the horses’ progress.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Spending time with family.

After early success as an amateur jockey, Jonjo Jr. took out a Conditional Jockey’s licence in 2018 and achieved impressive wins in his opening seasons, including the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton onboard Big Time Dancer, the Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Palmers Hill as well as the Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on Ready and Able.

The following season, Jonj became Conditional Champion and rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner in 2019 in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on Early Doors for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

In 2021, he secured his first Grade 1 aboard Champ in the Long walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Away from racing, he enjoys attending music concerts, playing squash, cycling (in the summer!), watching football and rugby and chilling with his dog Vinnie.

What is your favourite horse/horses? La Domaniale

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I have always ridden horses from a young age. I came to O’Neill Racing in 2022.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Schooling lots of different horses, having the time to get to know them and being lucky enough to have the opportunities to ride them at the races.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Going to the gym.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Copper Cove

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? Both my parents worked in racing and did work experience Noel Chance when I was 15 and have always been in racing since. I joined the O’Neill Racing team in 2019.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? The variety in day to day tasks.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Walking my dog.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Peso.

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I started working at O’Neill Racing in June 2024. Prior to joining I worked for Tayler & Fletcher.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? I enjoy every aspect of the role as everyday brings new challenges.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Away from work I enjoy family life with my husband and two (now grown up) sons. I enjoy travelling around the UK and overseas.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Monbeg Genius

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I’ve always been horse mad and grew up with my own ponies. I went racing to Cheltenham and watched the grooms and thought I want to do what they do. The rest, as they say, is history. I have been here since September 2012.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? I love going racing, turning the horses out – I have travelled the country alongside racehorses. I get a lot of personal satisfaction from looking after the horses that live in down in the pens – away from the main yard we have a bond of being all together, they are a lovely group of talented horses, and I love watching them run well or even better win!

What do you like to do outside of racing? I love reading, walking with my dog Daisy, hanging out with Joe & Finn, plus having the odd G&T.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Sayva

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I came through a friend from back home who worked locally nearby, I used the same agency as him and found myself working for Jonjo since 2015!

What part do you enjoy most about your role? I enjoy swimming the horses, its my main role here. When I can go, I love  going to the races and leading up winners.

What do you like to do outside of racing? I enjoy football, also I spend a lot of time on social media (as a Tiktok creator) making videos with the horses.

Who is your favourite horse/horses? Inchester D’Amsyal.
How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I did 3 years studying horse care at college and followed up with a 2 week course specialising in racehorses. My first job after college was at O’Neill Racing when I joined in 2018.
What part do you enjoy most about your role? Going to the big race meetings.
What do you like to do outside of racing? Looking after my horse, he’s a retired racehorse from work. I like seeing my family and going out for meals.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Red Dirt Road

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I’ve been here since 2022, I used to work at a stud and then went to the Racing college and came here after finishing there.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Leading up winners!

What is your favourite horse/horses? Clondaw Royale

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I attended the Northern Racing college. O’Neill Racing was my first job after college, I’ve now been here since 2021.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Watching the horses I look after progress.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Watching Netflix.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Peso

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? When spectating at big race meetings and seeing the excitement of the horses connections in the parade ring, maybe me want to get involved and be part of yard. I started part time in 2024 and moved to full time in September.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Seeing the horses I regularly ride progress and improve.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Eventing my own horse’s at grass roots level and playing netball.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Tzarmix

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I came straight from the racing school in 2024.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? I really enjoy riding work, we do this every Tuesday and Friday morning.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Watching sport and playing rugby.

What is your favourite horse/horses? The Long Walk
How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I did a year scholarship at the Riding A Dream Academy at BRS then did the 12 week foundation course at BRS. I started at ONR in 2023
What part do you enjoy most about your role? I enjoy spending time with the horses, watching the youngsters grow and progress into amazing horses to work with on the ground and ride.
What do you like to do outside of racing? Away from racing I like to travel.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Wilful & Bill Joyce.

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? My family have always been heavily involved in racing from jockeys to trainers, so I have always been involved in racing. I started in 2023.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Driving the horses to races and seeing progress and run well. I always enjoy going to the big race meetings.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy staying fit and going to the gym.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Inchester D’Amsyal.

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I’ve always been interested in the industry and enjoyed riding; I’ve been at O’Neill Racing for 4 years.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Riding out.

What do you like to do outside of racing?  Dog walks with Alan and our daughter Eva.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Collectors Item and Our Friend Mo.

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I went to Doncaster racing college and then came to O’Neill Racing straight from there in 2019.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Going racing and at the yard overseeing the horses in the solarium.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Going travelling.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Nobel Cave

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I did the pony racing course and worked at numerous racing yards before joining O’Neill Racing. I worked 2 years part time and became full time in the summer of 2024.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? The sunrise in the morning and going racing.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Going out for food with my friends.

What is your favourite horse/horses? I have a few! Limetree Boy, Springwell Bay & Impatient.

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I always wanted to work with horses, so I went to Racing college to get my training. I‘ve been here since 2021.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? I enjoy doing the holiday horses when they are out in the fields and seeing them, happy with their friends and all relaxed. I also enjoy grooming and plaiting the horses to parade for their owners when they visit the yard.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Riding lessons outside of work.

What is your favourite horse/horses? Roadlesstravelled

How did you get into racing and how long have you worked at O’Neill Racing? I’ve been at O’Neill Racing since 2022. I was lucky enough to have an ex-racehorse which got me interested in racing.

What part do you enjoy most about your role? Going to the big race meetings and seeing my horses run well.

What do you like to do outside of racing? Trying new foods.