We will have a small team heading to Cheltenham this week, but we’d like to think that they are all going there with a live chance.

We all know how difficult it is to get a winner at the festival, and we will be doing everything we possibly can to add to the 27 Cheltenham Festival winners on our honours board!

TUESDAY

2.40 Ultima Handicap Chase
Crebilly: He goes here and Jonj rides, usually a big field and we will need some luck but he has good course form. He was 2nd in the plate last season and we are hopeful he can go one better in this race.

5.20 NH Novices Chase
Hasthing: He could do with he ground a bit softer but the extra trip would suit us very well here. He has had a good season results wise and he seemed to be improving until Ascot last time. He will need to improve again to have a chance of winning this.

WEDNESDAY

2.40 Coral Cup or the 5.20 Martin Pipe (Friday)
Jipcot: – He will most likely go in one of these over the Pertemps Final. He won nicely at Newbury over two and a half miles and was upped in trip the next twice, but we think we will head to one of these with him.

THURSDAY

2.00 Jack Richards Novices Chase or 4.40 Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase
Springwell Bay: He has the chance of running in this or in the Plate. A final decision will be made of the morning of declarations to which race we will choose for him.

5.20 Kim Muir
Johnnywho: He is being aimed here with Derek O’Connor riding. He is high up in the weights and the trip will suit we think so fingers crossed.

FRIDAY

5.20 Martin Pipe or 2.40 Coral Cup (Wednesday)
As we mentioned above, Jipcot could run in the Martin Pipe on Friday or in the Coral Cup on Wedneaday. A decision will be made closer to the time.

Jonjo Jr. discussed our runners with Betfred last week. You can hear all of his thoughts in the video below.

We also welcomed ITV Racing last week to follow Jonjo Jr. for the morning as part of the David Power Jockey’s Cup.

This wonderful film was featured on The Opening Show and during the racing coverage on Saturday.

Behind the scenes 🎥

As part of the David Power @jockeyscup, we spent the morning at Jackdaws Castle with @JJONeillJnr#ITVRacing | #TheOpeningShow pic.twitter.com/ISepkxxmis

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 8, 2025

The Cheltenham Festival Sale will offer winning and placed point-to-pointers and horses in training in the Winner’s Enclosure after racing on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival.

Horses such as Bravesmansgame and this year’s Supreme hopeful Romeo Coolio are both graduates from this sale.

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

We have asked some of our friends for a tip each day throughout the week.

First up, Mike Cattermole.

WORKAHEAD – SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES

I was very taken by Workahead at Leopardstown on Boxing Day when he thrashed William Munney by seven lengths on that gloomy afternoon. Fascinatingly, his time was virtually identical to Kopek Des Bordes who had won half an hour earlier from the now-sidelined Kawaboomga.

Interestingly, Kawaboomga went on to beat William Munney by a length and a half a month later at Fairyhouse.

Kopek will be hard to beat but Workahead looks worth a punt each-way. He can start to make up for lost time for Henry De Bromhead after being sidelined for quite a while.

JAZZY MATTY – GRAND ANNUAL or JACK RICHARDS

In the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Path D’Oroux returns to have another crack after a fine third last year. However, he only had a head to spare over Jazzy Matty here in October and Jazzy Matty was trying to give him 8lb.

Now, Jazzy Matty gets 10lb and so is a massive 18lb better off! I notice that Cian Collins ran him over hurdles last time, probably to protect his chase mark.

He also has other entries (possibly the Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase on Thursday; he’s too far down in the Martin Pipe) but, as a former Festival winner when winning the Fred Winter in 2023 for Gordon Elliott, I want to be with Jazzy Matty wherever he shows up. I reckon it will be in the Grand Annual.

STEEL ALLY – CORAL CUP or MARTIN PIPE

Steel Ally, trained by Sam Thomas, is really likeable as is such a trier. He is also getting better. He gave Nemean Lion a terrific race at Fontwell recently and I think he will play a big part in either the Coral Cup on Wednesday or the Martin Pipe on the Friday where he would also be able to be ridden by the excellent conditional, Dylan Johnston.

Given a preference, I’d prefer to see him go for the Martin Pipe as it gives him an extra two days to freshen up after Fontwell and is also the easier race.

THE NEW LION – TURNERS NOVICE HURDLE

What he did in the Challow to some talented horses was nothing short of sensational. There was loads left in the tank as he cruised home for the Skeltons. He could be the best they have had.

A real shame that Darren Yeats had to sell him but whatever the reasons, they are none of our business. I bet JP McManus cannot believe he became available, though!

The Turners should be a cracker with Final Demand, a hulk of a horse, and The Yellow Clay also intending to show up. There isn’t much between those two through Wingmen.

I think The Yellow Clay would be a good thing in the Albert Bartlett but his trainer apparently prefers this option.

Next up, we have Matt Hulme from Betfred

HAITI COULEURS – NATIONAL HUNT CHASE

On Tuesday, I think he has a great chance of taking the National Hunt Chase. Having won at Cheltenham in December, he has been put away and made a pleasing comeback when third over hurdles in his prep run. The drying ground will suit and I fancy he can give Sean Bowen a first festival success.

POTTERS CHARM – TURNERS NOVICES HURDLE

In Wednesday’s opener, I am going to take a chance on Potters Charm each way. If he hadn’t run on trials day he would be a much shorter price now, and connections have openly admitted they shouldn’t have run him. He is a grade 1 winner, has course form and at a double figure price I can’t let him go unbacked in what does look a very good renewal.

LUCKY PLACE – STAYERS HURDLE

If Constitution Hill and Jonbon both deliver, I think there will be a market plunge on Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place in the Stayers’ Hurdle, so I’ll be backing him early in the week. With Teahupoo taking a big chunk out of the market and far from bombproof and Home By The Lee having his fourth attempt at success at the age of ten, I think they are both worth taking on. Lucky Place does have to prove his stamina, but the likely forecast ground will help on that score, and his win at Cheltenham in the Relkeel Hurdle was franked when Gowel Road landed the Cleeve on Trials Day. His ascot win also looks solid and if he stays, he’s a huge player.

EAST INDIA DOCK – TRIUMPH HURDLE

I am a huge fan of James Owen’s EAST INDIA DOCK in the Triumph Hurdle. The way he has quickened up from the front on both starts at the track has bee ultra impressive and Lulmba will have to be every bit as smart to keep tabs on him. His flat experience could be the deciding factor and he can score for the yard who were robbed of the chance of victory in last years race when Burdett Road was injured.

And finally, we have Coral’s Simon Clare.

WENDIGO – ALBERT BARTLETT HURDLE

We sponsor the Challow Hurdle and last year The Jukebox Man nearly won the Albert Bartlett after an eye-catching effort in the Coral Challow Hurdle, and I think Wendigo’s excellent second at Newbury gives him a great chance here.

THE CHANGING MAN – ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE

The Changing Man has been in fantastic form this season, coming second in some of the biggest staying handicap chases, and then deservedly winning the Reynoldstown and he should go close for the in-form Joe Tizzard team

THE NEW LION – TURNERS NOVICES HURDLE

Dan Skelton is a man on a mission to win the Trainers’ title this season, but along the way he’s sure to claim some more big prizes, and The New Lion is the horse he can’t hide his excitement about and can land the Turners’ Novices Hurdle, and land a much-needed victory for the home team against the Irish.

SPRINGWELL BAY – THE PLATE OR JACK RICHARDS NOVICES HANDICAP CHASE

Springwell Bay is an exciting and progressive chase who oozes class and was so impressive when winning at Cheltenham on New Years Day, and wherever Jonjo and AJ decide to run him, he is capable of running a big race.