However, on social media people were very supportive, despite us being in lockdown, which goes to show how well a locally trained winner at the meeting is received.” Like both Pauling and O’Brien, the O’Neill team will be adopting a quality over quantity approach to The Festival. But as a glass half full type of guy, AJ is excited about those bidding to bring further Festival glory back to Jackdaws Castle. He added: “Springwell Bay will definitely be going there after his win on New Year’s Day, although in which race I’m not quite sure just yet as he is now rated 154. Bill Joyce has been a great horse for us this season. Although we haven’t tried three miles on track, everything about him suggests that he would stay further than what he has so far run over. He could be Albert Bartlett bound, but we will keep all options open.
those big ones swerve the Mares’ Hurdle I wouldn’t put you off Dysart Enos if we get her back to that Greatwood Hurdle form.” A glance back through the results of Festivals gone by would show the name Jonjo O’Neill celebrating plenty of success at the meeting, both as a jockey, and latterly as a trainer. This year O’Neill will not be alone in chasing more glory at the meeting, with son AJ now operating on the license alongside him. And having watched, and listened to the tales of his dad’s exploits, he is keen to sample a slice of the action himself. He said: “I’ve always been excited about the Cheltenham Festival to be honest. Growing up in the local area and growing up around horses feels like the whole year revolves around it.
Peaky Boy, who we purchased recently at Doncaster, is likely to go there. He holds an entry in the Brown Advisory. He certainly looks to like Cheltenham so far and hopefully he can keep on doing so.
We are very fortunate to be in such a great area where there is so much horse racing,
and other equestrian sports, and it is nice to see the locals taking a really strong interest in it all. Sky Pirate was the yard’s last winner at the meeting in the 2021 Grand Annual, but it was during Covid so the celebrations had to be somewhat limited.
As I’m the eternal optimist I will be going there with a positive mindset about them all and hope one can do the business for us.”
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