April 2024
It’s crazy to think that we are into the last month of the season. It has felt a little stop start with all the wet weather for the last four months and I have never known Jackdaws Castle as wet as it is now!
It’s Grand National month which always brings three days of great fun and fantastic racing, with the ultimate prize in racing up for grabs on Saturday 13th April. We look forward to taking a strong team to Aintree (which you can read about below) and will get closer to the £1million mark in prize money!
There is, of course, the Goffs Aintree Sale that takes place after racing on Thursday 11th April. As always, we will be there to buy some exciting future stars. If you would like to get involved, in any capacity, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
March, as always was an action-packed month. The Cheltenham Festival is very special and its always lovely to welcome our owners and friends here each morning before racing. We were delighted with our runners most notably Crebilly, who ran a fantastic race to finish second in the Plate.
It was brilliant for Martin & Helen Payton to have their first Grade 2 winner with All The Glory in the EBF Mares’ Final at Newbury under a superb race ride by Jonj.
Regal Blue found his favourite muddy ground on Midlands Grand National day at Uttoxeter when winning impressively under Nick Scholfield for Martin and Iwona Tedham.
It was also lovely to see King Of Tara, Ruler Legend, Wilful and Pyffo all get their noses in front.
It was wonderful to take We’re Red And Blue over to Fairyhouse who ran a brilliant race to finish fourth in the €100,000 George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper under AJ. Owners Patrick and Erika Doyle travelled over from Dubai to watch and had a great weekend, which you can read more about below.
That’s enough from me and here’s hoping the rain stops soon.
Enjoy the Grand National wherever you will be watching.
Stay healthy and best wishes,
Jonjo
Recent Winners
WILFUL WINS IMPRESSIVELY AT FONTWELL
Wilful returned to the winner’s enclosure with an impressive victory a Fontwell in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
Prominent from the start, the pair put in a sound jumping display throughout until making a slight mistake at the second last.
He was shaken up and soon went clear to win easily.
Huge congratulations to owner Mrs Fitri Hay.
ALL THE GLORY TAKES THE GLORY AT NEWBURY
All The Glory put in a stunning display to win the Grade 2 EBF Mares’ Final at Newbury under a superb ride by Jonjo Jr.
In midfield, they made very smooth headway and were going easily when awaiting room before the last. She was switched left and was soon shaken up and quickened clear to win comfortably by nine lengths.
We are absolute thrilled for Martin and Helen Peyton!
FORTUNATE MAN WINS AT SOUTHWELL
Fortunate Man kept on well to get up to win at Southwell in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
In touch with leaders, they were hampered by faller at the seventh obstacle. Going into second around the home turn, he was pushed along 2 out and stayed on when approaching the last, getting up to win in the final 110 yards.
Many congratulations to owner JP McManus.
REGAL BLUE LOVES THE MUD AT UTTOXETER
Regal Blue put in a commanding front-running display in the heaviest of ground to win at Uttoxeter under a superb ride by Nick Scholfield.
Huge congratulations to our yard sponsor Martin and Iwona Tedham.
RULER LEGEND BREAKS HIS DUCK AT HUNTINGDON
Ruler Legend got off the mark at Huntingdon in nice fashion under a lovely ride by Richie McLernon.
Disputing second early, he was pushed along and went second around the home turn. They led narrowly when going best 2 out and went clear towards the last, before being pushed out up the run-in.
Congratulations to Barrowman Racing and well done to Richie for passing his career best number of season winners!
KING OF TARA WINS AT WARWICK
King Of Tara got his head over the line at the fourth time of asking at Warwick in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
Racing in second, they were going easily around the home turn. A slightly awkward jump 2 out, they led up the run in and kept on well to win by 3¼ lengths.
We are delighted for Jim and the Brogan Group.
OUR POTENTIAL GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL TEAM
Crebilly
He has a number of options which will be narrowed down nearer to the time. We were please with his run at Cheltenham and hope to go one better this time.
Mister Meggit
He will go for the bumper on the Saturday. His two wins have been very impressive and if he keeps improving, he hope he’ll be in with a live chance.
Wellington Arch
He won his bumper at Worcester when looking very green and has learned plenty in his next two runs which have had their form franked over and over again. He has earned his place in the Aintree Bumper and we are looking forward to him in the future.
Springwell Bay
He will be put in a couple of races and we will choose closer to the time. He has been very strong in handicaps this season, winning at Cheltenham so deserves his chance.
Johnnywho
Johnnywho has a number of options and has been running consistently this season, knocking on the door of graded level.
Inch House
He will be entered here and at Ayr and we will be keeping an eye on the ground. He was very good at Newbury twice and then at Cheltenham, we would be very hopeful and keeping our fingers crossed that we can cap off his season at one of these festivals.
GOFFS AINTREE SALE
The Goffs Aintree Sale is a boutique sale of pointers held after racing on the opening day of the Randox Grand National Festival.
If you are interested in purchasing or joining us at the sale, please email joe.oneill@jonjooneillracing.com.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Many congratulations to Aaron Sutherland who has been awarded our Employee of the Month for March.
Aaron is a vital part of the team here at Jackdaws Castle leading the logistics and operations side of the business.
On top of this, he took We’re Red And Blue over solo to Fairyhouse last weekend and looked after owners Patrick and Erika Doyle alongside the rest of the O’Neills who came to support!
Aaron wins a dinner, bed & breakfast two night stay at any of the Jupiter Hotel portfolio of Mecure Hotels.
A huge thank you to Chris Ford and Accor for their generous sponsorship of our Employee of the Month which gives members of our team a wonderful experience.
A WEEKEND AT FAIRYHOUSE
As we have mentioned, our owners Patrick and Erika enjoyed a wonderful weekend watching We’re Red And Blue at Fairyhouse.
It’s always great fun taking horses over to take on the Irish and he and AJ ran a super race to finish fourth in the bumper.
Here are a few words from Patrick:
“We travelled from Dubai to Dublin to see We’re Red and Blue compete in the Tattersalls (Ireland) Sale Bumper at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday.
We’re Red and Blue travelled on Friday overnight with Aaron Sutherland. Aaron kept us up to date with messages and videos as We’re Red and Blue left Jackdaws, as he arrived in Dublin, how he settled in at Fairyhouse.
Aaron and Jonjo O’Neill Racing arranged for us to be picked up from our hotel in Dublin, and dropped back afterwards.
The whole day was amazing, AJ, our jockey, managed to get us behind the scenes access to see our horse in his box, we then watched as he was saddled, he was quite reluctant!
He then won Best Turned Out for the second time in his two races!
After a win at Hereford, we were hopeful of a good run but aware of the high level of competition. AJ and We’re Red and Blue ran a lovely race, always involved, finishing a very respectable fourth in a strong field.
We had the most amazing day! Everyone at Fairyhouse was so friendly, and Aaron and AJ were brilliant. Bring on next season!”
A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
It was wonderful to see a clip of the 1986 Sports Personality of the Year shared on social media this week. A lot has changed since then and I am grateful to everyone who helped me get back to full health!
You can watch the clip here.
Happy Easter!
With the our hardworking staff scattered all over the UK & Ireland, we had to wait until Easter Monday to hand out all the Easter Eggs to the team!
Upcoming Birthdays & Work Anniversaries
Happy birthday to…
Jonjo O’Neill
13th April
AJ O’Neill
13th April
Georgia Plumb
13th April
Alex Pawlowski
18th April
Alex Howitt
30th April
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