The season is well and truly underway. It’s taken some time for the rain to come and we never usually have to wait this long, but after such an extended dry period in the summer it’s taken a long time for the ground to get to back to as close to jump season ground for this time of year.

Chepstow always marks the opening of the season with the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy, but the Charlie Hall last weekend and the November meeting at Cheltenham and Betfair Chase day at Haydock in the next fortnight is when the season really starts to feel like it’s heating up.

The softer ground means we have managed to send many runners out for their first run of the season. It’s always where the plans for each horse really start. You will always have plans and targets, but sometimes these get hampered by the weather, the ground, a knock or something you haven’t thought of!

With that said, we have been pleased with how the horses have been running. The month got off to a perfect start with Bathara winning nicely at Warwick. Cawthorne Banker dug deep to win at Uttoxeter to carry on his good form. Highlands Legacy impressed us on his chase debut when winning nicely at Worcester. And, most recently, Rula Bula doing just enough to win at Carlisle last weekend.

However, that doesn’t really tell the whole story of October. We have been hitting the crossbar a lot with 10 second placed horses and 9 third placed throughout the month! There isn’t a trainer in the land who wants to ever finish second or third, and we are no different, but what it does tell us is that our horses are running well.

Away from the track, we enjoyed the Tattersalls Autumn Sale at Newmarket last week where we bought a couple of really nice young horses. Without Burlington, a 3yo bay gelding by Without Parole ex Shaella and Likewhatyousee, 3yo bay filly by Street Sense ex Maqboola. Both are for sale, so if you would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at aj@oneill.racing.

And finally from us for now, as always, it has been lovely to welcome lots of our owners and guests to Jackdaws Castle. We love being the place where our owners’ families meet up and enjoy some time with the horses around the yard and on the gallops.

​Best wishes and take care,

Jonjo and AJ

Congratulations to Alex Watson for being awarded our Employee of the Month for October.

Alex has been given this award for his continued hard work and has recently stepped up to work riding the horses. He’s had a great month, leading up a runner for the first time at Cheltenham and then leading his first winner with Rula Bula at Carlisle.

He ​wins​ a dinner, bed & breakfast overnight stay at any Accor Hotel of her choice within the UK.

A huge thank you to Chris Ford and Accor for their generous sponsorship of our Employee of the Month which rewards team members with a wonderful experience.