The Grand National is upon us!
And just like that, the Cheltenham Festival is done and dusted for another year and all eyes turn to the Aintree Grand National meeting.
The Cheltenham Festival was once again a rollercoaster of emotions. We were all absolutely devastated to lose Springwell Bay. He was such a kind, beautiful and talented horse and was loved every day by the team here at Jackdaws Castle.
We also came agonising close to a winner with Johnnywho running a blinder to finish second in the Kim Muir on the Thursday.
It was great for Jonjo Jr. to enjoy two winners, winning the Plate aboard Jagwar, followed by the Triumph Hurdle on 100-1 shot Poniros for trainer Willie Mullins.
It was wonderful to welcome lots of of our owners and friends each morning of the festival to enjoy some breakfast, champagne and tips, before heading off to Cheltenham. There’s always an incredible buzz and it was lovely to see everyone.
The Grand National is a race like no other. It has changed plenty over the years but it’s still an amazing spectacle watched all over the world.
This year, Monbeg Genius will fly the flag for the yard and he goes there off the back of an impressive win at Uttoxeter in February. He jumps and he stays so we are hopeful of a good run. However, you need a lot of luck and pretty much everything to go right for you to have a chance!
Back home, it’s been a quieter few weeks with runners, but it was great to see Yes Day follow up his victory at Hereford with a lovely win the Devon Stayers Handicap at Exeter 10 days ago and Boston Boy get off the mark at Fontwell in nice fashion.
We are thrilled to welcome a new arrival to the team as Joe & Jojo welcomed a baby girl called Lainey, weighing a perfect 7lb 5oz on Saturday 29th March. Finn has taken to being a big brother wonderfully. We are sure you all join us in congratulating them!
Away from the track, we will be heading to the Goffs Aintree Sale on Thursday 3rd April. This sale takes place in the parade ring after racing. As always, if you would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more at joe@oneill.racing.
We wish you all a lovely weekend.
Best wishes and take care,
Jonjo & AJ
Recent Winners
The Cheltenham Festival at Jackdaws Castle
As we mentioned above, it was lovely to welcome our wonderful owners and friends to enjoy some hospitality each day here at Jackdaws Castle before heading off to Cheltenham.
Matthew and his Wesley House team were absolutely brilliant as ever, serving delicious breakfast canapes and topping up champagne glasses.
As is tradition, we were joined by the brilliant TalkSport Breakfast Show team who record their programme live from our Owner’s Suite. It’s always brilliant fun and is the perfect way to start the week.
We also gave tips each day, thanks to Mike Cattermole, Daryl Jacob, Roger Hart and Chris Dixon. Hopefully lots of our guests backed some winners!
You can see our a snap shot of the week below!
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Good luck Martin and Iwona!
Excitement is rising at Jackdaws Castle, in the Tedham household and amongst the employees at Martin Tedham’s Wasdell Group (sponsors of O’Neill Racing) as this Saturday’s Grand National approaches for our entry Monbeg Genius and his jockey Nick Scholfield.
The O’Neill Racing team carefully set a programme to get Monbeg Genius to the race and apart from the run at Chepstow, where no-one could see the race in the fog, all has gone to plan.
Martin loves the Grand National and has long wanted to have a runner and wife, Iwona and daughters Annabelle and Delilah are as excited as he is. Their last big race winner was Sky Pirate who won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021.
Monbeg Genius was entered, allocated a nice weight and got into the race. All Martin’s brothers and their wives, his sister and her husband will be at Aintree to see the race and colleagues from Ireland are coming over on the Friday and staying over until Sunday in hopeful anticipation of a celebration.
We wish Martin, Iwona and all their family and friends the greatest of luck!
Monbeg Genius and Lisa with Iwona and AJ
Our Aintree Runners
Our team of horses heading to Liverpool for the Aintree Grand National Festival.
Thursday
Tellherthename – The William Hill Aintree Hurdler 2m4f
Tellherthename ran a lovely race in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. Looking to re-find that form and excited to see him step up in trip.
Petit Tonnerre – The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase 2m
Petit Tonnerre did it very well at Doncaster back in January and was again running very well next time out when being brought down as the race was just about to get going. He is in good order and if all suits, he might continue his good run of form.
Friday
Wreckless Eric & Wellington Arch – The William Hill Handicap Hurdle 2m4f
Wreckless Eric hasn’t missed a beat this season and is one tough lad to be competing as well as he has been. He will need another step up here and should be fine on the ground. Wellington Arch is a lovely, promising and progressing young horse off a good weight, and we look forward to seeing him run.
Mister Meggit – The Odds Checker Sefton Novices’s Hurdle 3m
Mister Meggit is a really nice horse who has unfortunately had a set back and missed most of this season. He is in great form at home and we are looking forward to his run.
Country Park – The Hallgarten And Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle for Conditional & Amateur Jockeys 2m1/2f
Country Park will love the pace of this race, he has promised plenty so far and it would be a nice day for him to deliver!
Saturday
Bill Joyce / Jipcot – The William Hill Handicap Hurdle 3m
Bill Joyce has continued where he left off in Bumpers and winning over hurdles including a Grade 2 this season. The form of the Challow hurdle has been well franked and only that the ground is drying he would have a good chance here. Jipcot goes back to 3 for this and he loves the big handicap fields. I think you will need to strike through his last run so he comes here with a good each way shout.
Peaky Boy – William Hill Freebooters Handicap Steeple Chase 3m1f
Nice to have Peaky Boy coming back to being himself. He will like the ground and going left handed on this course. The first of two runners for our sponsors Martin and Iwona on Grand National Day.
Monbeg Genius – The Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase 4m 2 1/2f
Monbeg Genius is our only entry this year. Having actually been the plan for the last two-years, we are happier he has got in this year with him being a year older and wiser. It is a notoriously tough race but we know he jumps and stays well, so to finish this great race would be our first aim, get some luck in running and it would be nice to still be in with a chance come the Melling Road before the last two jumps.
Goffs Aintree Sale
The Goffs Aintree Sale is boutique sale of pointers held after racing on the opening day (Thursday 3rd April) of the Grand National Festival.
The sale has sold pointers up to £400,000 and graduates include the Gr.1 winner Croke Park.
You can view the lots of the sale HERE.
If you are keen to get involved with O’Neill Racing and considering purchasing a horse, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at joe@oneill.racing
15 years since Don't Push It won the National!
Can you believe it is 15 years since Don’t Push It won the Grand National?
It is a day that none of us will ever forget and it was incredibly special in so many ways.
It was Jonjo’s first National win as trainer. JP McManus’s first as an owner. And, at his fifteenth attempt, Sir AP McCoy’s first as a jockey.
There really is no feeling like it, knowing the whole world is watching!
Don’t Push It lives in Martinstown in Ireland with JP. We have shared a race replay and a beautiful film that Fairyhouse Racecourse shared last week from Martinstown featuring a couple of our past superstars.
AJ on RaceDay TV
AJ was captured by Frankie foster and the roaming orange mic at Cheltenham for an interview.
They discussed everything from what it’s like as a young trainer, Jonj’s fantastic festival week and how important it is to get younger people into the sport.
Raceday TV is part of Racing TV. You will often see them interview people at the bigger meetings.
You can watch AJ’s interview here.
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Stable Tours at Jackdaws Castle
Our VIP Stable Tours are incredibly popular and make the most wonderful gift for a horse racing enthusiast.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for fans of our great sport to go behind the scenes at one of the most famous training establishments in the UK.
Your day will start at the stunning Lygon Arms in Broadway at 7:15 am, before heading to Jackdaws Castle to watch the horses on the gallops and in the swimming pool, and soaking up the breathtaking scenery of this magical location.
Depending on the day of your visit, you may have the chance to see our top jockeys schooling the horses or observe our resident farriers at work as they prepare the horses.
Your tour culminates with a visit to our Owners’ Suite where you may have the opportunity to meet Jonjo and AJ for a photo opportunity and a chat.
For all the information and how to book, please visit oneill.racing/about-us/stable-tours.
Upcoming Birthdays & Work Anniversaries
Welcome to the world…
Lainey O’Neill
Born on Saturday 29th March, 2025
Happy birthday to…
Jonjo O’Neill Snr
April 13th
AJ O’Neill
April 13th
Georgia Plumb
April 13th
Megan Petrie
April 18th
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