F EATURE JONJO O’NEILL SR. & JONJO O’NEILL JR.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River in the Denman Chase at Newbury in the absence of the horse’s regular partner, Richard Johnson. If he felt any pressure from the racing world watching his every move, he definitely didn’t show it. He calmly, confidently and maturely got the job done. “That was definitely the biggest win of my career. I was very lucky to be asked to ride him. Dad has always encouraged me to ride for other people and I’m really grateful for all the opportunities I get.” “If you want to make it as a jockey you have to ride for other people,” adds Jonjo Sr. “You have to learn the different ways that trainers do things and listen to their advice. It is great that other trainers are giving him the opportunities to ride big winners – it’s a
To the outside eye Jonjo Jr. looked to have an upbringing that could only mean one thing for him. “I didn’t know anything different. I was very lucky with the amount of jockeys riding out all the time. My pony, Highmead Chatterbox, was really difficult and it was thought that if I could ride her then many of the horses would be a lot easier! You don’t really realise how much you are subconsciously learning from them all. “I was more or less learning alongside Richie McLernon throughout his whole apprenticeship, and at that time AP was riding lots for dad and was having loads of success. It was a great time and I know how lucky I am to have been in that position.” The last decade has seen a lot of changes at Jackdaws Castle. Jonjo Jr. is now his father’s main jockey and brother AJ assists Jonjo Sr. with the training of the
competitive game and it’s down to his hard work that gets him those chances.” They are separated by 44 years, but their appetite for success and passion for the sport is indistinguishable. When asked how the forthcoming season could look for the team, Jonjo Sr. couldn’t hide his excitement. “I feel hungrier unquestionably witnessing a future Champion Jockey. “I know everyone says they want to be Champion Jockey, but I really do. It’s something I have been trying to work towards, but I’m also very aware how hard it will be. You need a huge amount of support and the next couple of years will be about laying the foundations to put myself in the best position to achieve this.”
If youwant to make it as a jockey you have to ride for other people
horses. “We don’t argue too much,” jokes Jonjo Jr. “I feel incredibly lucky to be able to say I work with both of them. It’s a special situation and we all have different views… Sometimes they’re even right!” It’s a system that is certainly blossoming, and
perhaps one that has helped recapture some ambitions for the elder Jonjo. “I have always been a quietly ambitious person,” he says. “However sometimes the odds don’t come out in your favour. The last few seasons it has definitely helped having AJ assisting me. And seeing Jonjo riding winners on horses that shouldn’t win gives me a great kick.”
than ever and am ready to give this season, and many more, all we have. We have lots of lovely young horses, a brilliant team in the yard, and wonderful owners.” And what does the future hold for Jonjo Jr. with the racing world at his feet? If he can steer clear from injuries we are
Although the 2019/20 Jump racing season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, Jonjo Jr. still managed to ride 61 winners, 26 more than his nearest rival and a number that saw him comfortably win the British Champion Conditional Jockey title. In February he was entrusted by Colin Tizzard with riding former
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