Jonjo O’Neill Jnr

Welcome to our profile of jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jnr:

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr Runners Today

Here are all the Jonjo O’Neill Jnr rides today and future entries he is set to ride:

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr Recent Form

Key Stats

Name – Jonjo O’Neill Jnr

Date of Birth – 26 January 1997

Big Wins: Lanzarote Hurdle, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, Denman Chase, Reynoldstown Novices Chase, Betway Handicap Chase, Betfair Hurdle, Dovecote Novices Hurdle, Midlands Grand National, Long Walk Hurdle, Long Distance Hurdle, Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle, Triumph Hurdle Trial.

Jockey Profile

Jonjo is the son of former champion jockey and Gold Cup and Grand National winner trainer Jonjo Snr. Although a keen horse rider, young Jonjo was equally keen on rugby but believed he could make it as a jockey if he could get his weight down. Being able to ride out at his father’s imposing Jackdaws Castle with the likes of Tony McCoy and Noel Fehily inspired him to pursue a career in the sport. He rode his first winner under rules in 2015, became champion conditional jockey in 2019-20 and is now the retained rider to his father’s yard.

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr – Key Jockey Stats

Jonjo’s career got off to a relatively quiet start, riding four winners in 2016-17 and nine in 2017-18. The following year his rides increased from 61 to 194, yielding 30 winners. He rode 348 times in 2019-20 with 61 winners and posted a career-best 62 winners in 2020-21. He had 50 in 2021-22 and is on course for his most successful season in 2022-23.

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr Big Race Wins

Jonjo’s first major success came in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle on Big Time Dancer in January 2019. He then enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival success aboard Early Doors, owned by JP McManus and trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien, in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

In 2020 he was given the opportunity to partner former Gold Cup winner Native River in the Denman Chase at Newbury and landed the Grade 2 event. In 2021 he won the valuable Betfair Hurdle on his father’s Soaring Glory, catching the eye with his patient waiting race on the novice.

He had his second big win in the JP McManus silks when winning the Midlands National on Time To Get Up. In December 2021 he donned the famous silks to win his first Grade 1 on Nicky Henderson’s Champ in the Long Walk Hurdle. He rode the same horse to win the Long Distance Hurdle in November 2022.

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr Most Famous Victories

O’Neill’s first Cheltenham Festival win came on 5-1 chance Early Doors in the Martin Pipe Hurdle. Joseph O’Brien snapped up his services and O’Neill timed his challenge to perfection. He challenged at the last and wore down the well-backed favourite Dallas Des Pictons to win by a length and a half.

Native River was odds-on favourite at 2-5 for the Denman Chase and he comfortably held Secret Investor after leading all the way. Soaring Glory’s Betfair Hurdle victory was a perfect exhibition of young Jonjo’s qualities as a rider, settling the six-year-old behind the leaders and cruising up to the lead before being driven out to beat Fifty Ball and Edwardstone.

Champ’s Grade 1 victory at Ascot was won in similar style, although the horse was a little keen after a long absence from the track. O’Neill unleashed him at the second last and kept enough in reserve to repel Thyme Hill and Paisley Park.

Summary

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr is one of the most stylish riders in Britain and looks capable of emulating his father by becoming champion jockey one day. He looks a certainty to add to his first Cheltenham Festival success sooner rather than later.

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