February 2023
The bizarre weather continues with a few meetings being postponed for frost, while other courses offer going that is too firm for many of our horses.
With that said, where the ground has been suitable, we have managed to get lots of runners out and enjoyed an encouraging proportion of winners that you can read about below. I am pleased with how all the horses are going and I’m just hoping for ground where we can keep the horses running.
All the team here at Jackdaws wish Richie McLernon a speedy recovery. He took a nasty fall at Doncaster and somehow walked back in. He’s done some damage to his leg and knee (which you can also read about below) and we hope to see him back before too long.
I would like to pause and take a moment to wish Tom Scudamore a very happy retirement. He’s a top man and one of the best in the saddle. We have enjoyed some tremendous success together and I’m grateful for all of his support over the years.
And lastly, we took the decision to retire Annie Mc. She has been a superstar for ourselves and Coral and will now enjoy a future as a broodmare. It has been a really fun few years and she surpassed all expectations, winning graded and listed races. We’re excited to follow Coral’s new horse, Hey Day Baby
We have a busy few weeks ahead of us at the sales. It’s always an inspiring time of year as we continue to look for talented new horses, and hopefully the next Jackdaws legend! If you are keen to get involved or are looking to buy again, please get in touch and we can most definitely help.
The next time we’re in touch, all eyes will be on the Cheltenham Festival. Once again, we will welcome Talk Sport up for their breakfast show on the Monday, and lots of our owners and guests for champagne and canapes all week to start their festival days in style.
Stay healthy and best wishes,
Jonjo
Recent Winners
January 21
50 up for the season at Ffos Las
Regal Blue and Nick Scholfield brought up our 50th winner of the season in impressive style at Ffos Las.
In control at the front for much of the race, they picked up the pace after 2-out and were foot-perfect at the last, staying on well in the run in and winning by 7 lengths.
Huge congratulations to owners Martin and Iwona Tedham and it was fantastic to see Nick riding winners again after a frustrating few months on the sidelines.
It was a wonderful coincidence that our 50th winner of the season is connected to our incredibly generous yard sponsors Wasdell Group.
January 26
Blue Shark strikes again!
Blue Shark continued his incredible run with his fourth win in a row at Wetherby in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
Running in midfield, they made good headway and were pressing leaders three out. Continuing to travel well, they hit the front before two out and managed to hold that position, staying on well run-in to do just enough.
We are absolutely delighted for Ros, Zakia, Sam, Sue, Paul and Tony of The Ocean Partnership.
January 27
A day of mixed emotions
We endured the ups and downs of racing today with a brilliant double and a sad loss.
Imperial Bede and Jonjo Jr. put in a lovely jumping display to win impressively at Huntingdon in the colours of JP McManus, with Half The Freedom completing our double in the final race up at Doncaster under a superb ride from Kevin Brogan for Laura, Richard, Sarah, Eddie, Sue, Nigel, Mark, Jo and David of The Free At Last Partnership.
Racing is a great leveller and sadly we lost Rocked Up at Doncaster. Our thoughts are very much with her owners Steve and Shirley-Ann, Richard and Paul.
February 3
A fantastic Friday at Chepstow
We took eight runners to Chepstow and were delighted to come away with three impressive winners.
Inch House opened his account for us with a gallant performance under a superb ride from Jonjo Jr.
We are absolutely delighted for owners Michael and Jania Geoghegan!
Monbeg Genius and Jonjo Jr. followed up their victory at the same course a month ago with another outstanding jumping display making it three wins in a row.
Many congratulations to Barrowman Racing Limited.
Our third winner of the day came in the bumper where Beachcomber and Jonjo Jr. were 16-length winners.
We are thrilled for his owner The Honourable Elizabeth Wills.
Well done to all of the team for all of their incredible hard work, and congratulations to all connections!
Coeur Serein wins at Newbury
Coeur Serein broke his duck over fences with victory in the opener at Newbury in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
A three-horse race soon became a two-horse race with the favourite pulling up, with the race hotting up 4-out.
With both horses in full flight, Coeur Serein joined the leader approaching the last and soon nosed ahead, jumping fluently and keeping on very well in the run-in.
Huge congratulations to owner Andy Ralph.
Coeur Serein with Rachel, Jonj, Jacqui, Alex, owner Andy Ralph and Jonjo
February 15
Prince Escalus gets back to winning ways at Wetherby
Prince Escalus returned to the winner’s enclosure after a solid jumping display at Wetherby in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
We are delighted for Diane & Helen Benussi, Pamela Carter and The Honourable Elizabeth Wills of The As You Like It Syndicate!
Springwell Bay impresses at Ascot
Springwell Bay returned to the winner’s enclosure after a resounding 9½ length victory at Ascot in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
Huge congratulations to owner Mrs Gay Smith and well done to Tirana for winning Best Turned Out and to Georgia who rides him every day.
Itso Fury, Collectors Item and Maypole Class also won Best Turned Out prizes which is a fantastic team effort and an indication of how much care and attention our team give to every horse.
February 20
Walk Of No Shame makes it 60 winners for the season
Walk Of No Shame and Jonjo Jr. survived a scare at the second last to bring up our 60th winner of the season at Lingfield.
The pair were much more fluent at the last to go clear on the run-in and win by 5 lengths.
We are delighted for owners Mrs Sharon Wilks & Paul Taiano.
THANK YOU, SCU!
After 25 years and more than 1,500 winners, Tom Scudamore retired last week.
That number of winners places him in the top 10 of the most successful Jump jockeys of all time in Great Britain and Ireland.
We enjoyed many successes over the years, but none greater than when winning the Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly The Hennessy) in awesome style in 2020 for the much-missed Trevor Hemmings.
Jonjo Jr. said “Tom has been a great friend of mine for the last few years and we go way back; he went to the same school as me in Cheltenham. He’s a phenomenal man, very funny and witty but also intelligent. Tactically, he was the best around,”
“He rode some great winners for dad, Sky Pirate at Cheltenham, Cloth Cap in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and Soaring Glory at Ascot. He’s done very well for us and he’s going to be massively missed. He was one of the good guys.”
Upcoming Sales
CHELTENHAM FEBRUARY SALE 2023
Jonjo and the team will be heading to the Cheltenham February Sale on Thursday 23rd February.
The Cheltenham February Sale will offer a select group of winning and placed point to pointers and NH form horses in the sale ring on Cheltenham racecourse.
If you are interested, please contact us at pa@jonjooneillracing.com and we would love for you to join us at the sales.
You can view the lots of the sale via the button below.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL SALE 2023
There is always a real buzz for the sale on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival.
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
If you are thinking about buying and would like join us at either sale, please email pa@jonjooneillracing.com.
Thank you Annie
I was sad to announce the retirement of Annie Mc earlier this month, but great to see her finish happy and healthy.
It has been an incredibly fun journey with Annie, Chris, Simon and all the Coral team and we have lots of wonderful memories.
The next chapter is just as exciting as the plan is for her to go to France to get covered. We, and Coral, will continue to follow her journey in the coming years.
Employee of the month
Many congratulations to Isabelle Nowicki on being awarded our latest Employee of the Month.
Isabelle’s riding has improved incredibly since she joined us. She has been riding work and also riding some of the youngsters, and doing a brilliant job!
We have asked her a few questions so you can get to know her.
What is you favourite thing about working at Jonjo O’Neill Racing?
I love how friendly everyone is and riding all the horses.
How long have you worked at Jonjo O’Neill Racing
I have been at Jackdaws Castle for almost a year after 12 weeks at the National Horseracing College in Doncaster.
What is you best moment in racing so far?
Leading up Magic Seven at Hereford was brilliant. He was my first winner!
What do you enjoy doing away from racing?
Socialising with friends I have made at Jackdaws.
GET WELL SOON, RICHIE
We all know the dangers of riding and sadly Richie McLernon took a nasty fall at Doncaster recently.
He suffered multiple fractures to his tibia and a couple of fractures on his knee (see image below).
Recovery has started with non weight-bearing for 6 weeks in a brace, followed by a couple of weeks easy walking and then rehab.
We all wish him all the best and can’t wait to see him back in action before too long.
35 YEARS SINCE JONJO'S FIRST WINNER!
January 30th marked 35 years since Jonjo trained his first winner!
Shelbourne, ridden by Frank Berry (father of our Head Lad, Alan) won the Novice Hurdle at Ayr.
FEBRUARY IN PICTURES
We welcomed photographer Neil Duggan up to Jackdaws Castle earlier this month.
He was blessed with a beautiful crisp February morning and took some lovely pictures of the team on the gallops and in the yard.
Upcoming Birthdays & Work Anniversaries
Happy birthday to…
Cain Rees
3rd March
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