Login
Free Trial
Jonjo and AJ O'Neill 2025-26 Jumps season stable tour
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 28 Oct 2025
When Jonjo and AJ O’Neill reflect on their first season training together they can be satisfied with what they achieved, but they know it is a benchmark they can both reach and surpass.
A total of 72 winners in Britain was on par with the same number that Jonjo enjoyed on his final season training under his own name, however passing the £1million barrier was something that had not been achieved by the team at Jackdaws Castle since the 2016-17 campaign.
And to top things off there was also the added bonus of a winner at the Punchestown Festival in May courtesy of the returning Petit Tonnerre.
In recent years most of the big race success enjoyed at the yard has arisen in major handicaps, but last season it saw the team celebrate two Grade Two novice hurdle victories thanks to Bill Joyce and Roadlesstravelled, which bodes well for the future.
And with team replenishing stocks with some potentially smart recruits to add to those that flew the flag well for the team last season there is every chance that the bar could once again be raised by the father-and-son team.
AJ O’Neill said: “We were very lucky with a lot of nice young horses last season and, as a yard in general. The number of winners was on par with what dad had been achieving, but the prize money was up. Hopefully we can build on it from there.
“I suppose having a winner at Aintree with Wellington Arch was unreal and having a winner at Punchestown was special as well. We had a couple of Grade Two wins with Bill Joyce and Roadlesstravelled. We were lucky there were a few good days amongst them.”
And with his son Jonjo O’Neill Jnr already a driving force in the saddle at the yard Jonjo admits he was pleased with how his first season working alongside both sons developed.
Jonjo added: “It is working well and the lads have done a good job. Finding those nice horses is the hardest bit, but that has always been the same.
“We have a few nice ones from last season from hurdling to go chasing and hopefully they stay safe and sound.
“It is hard to say what the strongest division we have until you run a few as you always think your geese are swans.”
Enjoy a FREE month trial of Racing TV! Click here for more details
ASSERTIVE WALK
“He is a backward horse that has just taken time. He ran a good race on his sole start at Chepstow. Physically, he deteriorated afterwards, as it just showed how weak he was.
“He is a stronger horse this time around and he has done well for his summer out at grass. “We are looking forward to him and we will go novice hurdling with him. I would say we would start him at two miles as he can be a little bit buzzy.”
BARASCARIA TEN
“He is a four-year-old half-brother to Escaria Ten. He hasn’t been here long so we don’t know too much about him.
“He looks like a nice horse and he has a good size about him. He appears to be a good model.”
BATHARA
“I don’t think it was a great race he won up at Warwick, but we are delighted that he won. He had a wind operation before he ran at Bangor last season.
“He probably appreciates nicer ground. He has been doing plenty of schooling, and he seems to jump well, so I would say we will now be pushing on over hurdles with him soon.
“He could run over hurdles at Ascot or Uttoxeter later in the week, but he might have one more run in the bumper at Ascot on Saturday.”
BEACHCOMBER
“He won a good race at Kempton Park around Christmas time last season. He is one that appreciates better ground.
“At Punchestown in the spring he ran an absolute cracker. He is one that appears better going right handed as we found out at Catterick one day, but there should be nice three mile handicap chases we can aim him at.
“He could be one we start at Ascot in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup.”
BILL JOYCE
“He is a big fine horse that is very strong. He was good winning his Grade Two over hurdles last season at Sandown Park.
“He jumped his hurdles like they were a fence and we have always looked forward to him going chasing. Hopefully, he can be as exciting over fences as we think he will be.
“He went along steadily last season. We would have liked it to have gone a bit better, but it was okay. He always looked like he would be a chaser so this season we are really looking forward to him.
“He will want a staying trip in time, but we might start him over two and a half miles and work him upwards. We will let him find his feet over bigger obstacles and work away from there.”
BOSTON BOY
“He had a crazy start last season. You could put a child on him at home so for him to run out twice was unlike him.
“The first time out at Leicester I can forgive him as they bypassed a hurdle, but at Windsor it was nasty at the second last, and he would have won. He just threw himself over the rail.
“We found out he has a wind problem and he has had a wind operation. He will go chasing now and he is well-handicapped.
“He is better than a one hundred and ten rated horse, providing the wind operation has worked, and it seems like it has at home. He could start at Huntingdon on Sunday.”
COLLECTORS ITEM
“He ran well in the London National and then won the Somerset National. He pulled up in the Eider Chase, but then ran well in the bet365 Gold Cup back at Sandown Park. He is a good stayer.
“In a lot of his races, when other horses quicken, he gets slightly detached, but if he doesn’t get detached he will stay on and pick off tired horses.
“He probably hasn’t got much in hand up his sleeve and we will go down a similar route this season.”
CREBILLY
“He was a bit disappointing last season. He never looked right, but he has come back in this season looking fantastic. He is a bit tricky to train as he does have a tendency to pick up things.
“Looking at his races through the summer all it looked like was that he was staying on in them.
“We tried him over three miles one furlong in the Ultima, and he was disappointing, but then he showed a glimmer of promise dropped back to two and a half miles at Ayr.
“He is not the biggest lad so weight would be an issue to him. He is a good jumper, but he probably just over jumps a little bit at some of his fences.
“There is a nice race in him somewhere. He could head to Wetherby later in the week.”
DON VIRGINIA
“He was so consistent through the summer, but he went up nineteen pounds for that win at Worcester. Richie (McLernon) gave him a great ride that day. A lot of the fancied horses didn’t run well and he got the run of the race and was able to do it on his own terms.
“We were slightly shocked, but delighted at the same time. He had the first time cheekpieces on, but they’ve never improved any of our horses nineteen pounds yet.
“He finished fifth in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham the other day and we will make another plan soon with him.”
GARRINCHA
“He is a three-year-old by Doctor Dino. We got him as a two-year-old at Arqana last summer. “The aim is to run him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in the Listed four-year-old bumper, but he would need to have a run before that. He could head up to Aintree next month while there are races like that around Huntingdon as well for him.”
GIANTS WAY
“He is a three-parts brother to Labaik. Our lad is by Walk In The Park.
“He is a beautiful stamp of a horse and is free moving. He has got a good pedigree and he does everything neatly. Hopefully he will develop into a useful horse.”
HASTHING
“He picked up a couple of wins around Windsor and he would have possibly been third at the Cheltenham Festival had he not of fallen and then he was brought down in the Scottish National before he pulled up at Punchestown where he didn’t fire that day.
“He schooled away grand after what happened at Ayr, but being brought down is worse than falling as it comes from nowhere.
“He is another that fits into running in those longer distance handicap chases. He needs to bounce back from his run at Punchestown though as he didn’t go at all that day.”
⭐️ Featured Offer ⭐️
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets with Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet: Bet £10 get £30 in free bets with Virgin Bet
⭐️ Featured Offer ⭐️
Bet £10 get £20 in free bets + 50 free spins with Midnite
Join Midnite and get 4 x £5 free bets + 50 free spins!
Terms & Conditions
Claim Now⭐️ Featured Offer ⭐️
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + 50 Free Spins with Betano
Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10 with Betano
HAWTHORN STREET
“He ran into fourth in his first, and only start, for us last season, but we are happy with how he ran there and we are happy with what we have seen so far. He will stay hurdling as he needs a bit of experience.”
IRON BRIDGE
“He is back in and is in great form. Like Crebilly he looks better this season than he did last season. Last season he had a fractured tooth and then a fractured skull so it was hard to gain momentum with him.
Up to now we have had no setbacks. We will be trying to win what we can with him, but he is well capable of winning a good one.
“He is a galloper and he is a bit in the same mould as Monbeg Genius. He could have a good season. The Welsh Grand National would be on the agenda again.
“The Midlands National would be there as well as the Grand National, if he got into it, as the ground would have to be right. There is a chance he could go to Carlisle on Sunday.”
JACK TO BAT
“He ran twice at Ffos Las last season and once at Warwick and is now rated one hundred and thirteen.
“At Ffos Las the first day he was beaten nine lengths by Jig’s Forge, who ran in the Albert Bartlett. We would like to think he should win a few races this season.”
JIPCOT
“He had a wind operation before winning at Newbury last season and the plan is to go chasing with him this campaign.
“He has been tried over fences before and he looked to jump well on the whole, but unfortunately on one of those starts he fell at Ascot.
“He has schooled well at home. Mentally he is calmer and he has grown up a bit so he is not trying to attack everything now.
“As he is such a buzzy kind of horse he can be hard to get a gauge on. He probably wants a good bit of cut in the ground. If the ground is suitable for him he could run at either Uttoxeter or Wetherby later in the week.”
JOHNNYWHO
“It was a great run he put in at the Cheltenham Festival and then in the Irish Grand National. They were two very creditable performances to be fair and we were very happy with him.
“You would probably be going down a similar route and be looking at those long distance chases.
“You would be thinking he might be a Grand National horse as he jumps and stays, but that will be up to JP (McManus)and his team.
“He is a grand, sound horse and that is the main thing. He has an entry in the Grand Sefton and we might look at that for him.”
LARGY GO
“He was the sale topper up at Aintree and he was the pick of the bunch.
“He is a lovely horse by Poet’s Word that won a point-to-point for his previous connections. He has a very good attitude as he got headed in that race, but he stayed on again.
“He is only four-years-old, but I’m not sure which route he will go yet. He has filled out plenty over the summer and he looks much stronger now.”
LION ROSE SIVOLA
“We bought him at the February sale at Cheltenham. He is very pleasing at home. He hasn’t been on an away day or anything, but he does everything right.
“He moves well and we just love him. He could be a nice horse.”
MIDNIGHT JURY
“He is a full-brother to Bambino Fever. That is kind of the introduction he gets.
“He has done everything well at home, but we only got him this year as a three-year-old, however we haven’t tried or tested him yet, however we like him.
“He might run in the spring for us.”
MISTER MEGGIT
“We thought he had won the Grade One up at Aintree. He was only cantering just six weeks before Aintree. If he would have been one hundred per cent fit at Aintree I think it would have been a different day.
“He is likely to be out in the new year. He could go novice chasing, but his connections might want to stay hurdling with him as he is not badly handicapped and we don’t want to lose his novice chase status in February.
“He is a very talented horse. He would be the best horse we have got, however you wouldn’t see that at home.”
MONBEG GENIUS
“He will be aimed at all those good staying handicap chases in soft ground. Something like the Welsh Grand National could be for him as he was fourth in it last season.
“He could go to Cheltenham in November for the staying handicap chase there. Historically, he comes on a lot for his first run.
“I wouldn't knock the Grand National off the agenda, but the handicapped probably has him about right. He is a grand horse that stays well.
“He should win one of those nice staying handicap chases as he is the sort of horse that will win in his turn.”
MOSSY FEN COLIO
“He won his point-to-point impressively and he was a highly touted horse. He won that race well on testing ground. He is five so we will go straight over hurdles with him. He is owned by the people that have Roadlesstravelled.”
MT FUGI PARK
“He is another that has had a wind operation. He will go chasing this season and we will go shopping around with him to see if he comes good.
“He looks fantastic as he is a gorgeous looking horse. I want to let him do the talking on the track now.”
OH CLARE
“She was third first time out in a bumper at Carlisle last season. We went back there and it didn’t quite go to plan.
“She has strengthened up an awful lot. She was with Jason Maguire over the summer and she has done really well. She is a good strong filly for mares' novices' hurdles.
“She could start off at Uttoxeter on Friday.”
ONEFOURNINE
“We got her in November last year after she won her only point-to-point. She is a lovely filly by Kalanisi that does everything well.
“We were going to run her in the spring, but we didn’t have the rain so we decided to sit tight and be patient.
“We will probably go straight over hurdles as she is five.”
PEAKY BOY
“He is rated one hundred and thirty-nine. You would definitely want a run before something like the Coral Gold Cup, but I’m not sure we could squeeze that in to be honest with you.
“He has had a wind operation, but he has just taken longer to come right than we wanted to.
“He might be one for the spring the way it is going. On his day the form is there, and if we can get him right, you would like to think we can have a good few days with him, but getting him right is the key.”
PESO
“He was a non-runner in the EBF Final last season as he was lame. He is a tricky horse to keep right, but he has ability and he would have more ability than you have seen at the moment.
“He is difficult to keep on the straight and narrow, but if we can manage to do that he will be alright and he would be okay in handicaps over hurdles.
“I would think we could go down that route first. On his day he is a nice enough horse.”
PETIT TONNERRE
“I think the way the race was run at Punchestown where they went a really strong gallop and he had something to aim at really suited him.
“He is a tricky horse though as if they don’t go a gallop you can’t really make it on him. He was tried over further than two miles, but he never seemed to quite get it.
“He has got the ability, it is just a case of getting it out of him, but you would think there could be one of those nice two mile handicaps in him.
“He might be one we get going at Ascot at the weekend.”
RED DIRT ROAD
“He had a cracking season. We couldn’t see much of it up at Aintree when he emerged from the fog, but we ended up being quite happy. He had a great season and managed to pick up a few prizes. He definitely likes a bit of cut in the ground
“We had planned to go novice chasing last season, but as the start of the season went so well we thought there was still mileage over hurdles and thankfully there was.
“We are looking forward to getting him going when there is some cut in the ground. Novice chasing was the plan last season, but we will be taking a strong look at that route this season.”
ROADLESSTRAVELLED
“As he won a point-to-point you would think he would have no problem over fences. He did well to win his Grade Two up at Haydock Park.
“I think better ground is something that he prefers, but it is one of those things that you don’t know until you try it.
“It was probably on the softer side for him at Aintree and possibly up at Kelso as well on his last start.
“The owners are fortunately very patient and they can see that he is a big fine horse that has taken a while to fill out into himself.
“Hopefully he can step forward again over fences. We would probably stick to two miles with him for now.”
RULA BULA
“She has been placed in a couple of Listed races now and the form of her Newbury run, where Jubilee Alpha was in behind, looks quite strong.
“She is a big fine filly and she looks stronger this season. It would be nice to find a nice mares race for her as she has got some good form in the book.
“She is not little as she is a well rounded mare. We might start her off over hurdles before going over fences”
SAINT DAVY
“His first run last season he ran well in the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown and as he is still a novice over fences that could be a good place to go to again.
“He fell behind Handstands at Ffos Las then he didn’t go great at Newbury before he pulled up in the Midlands Grand National.
“Dig in the ground is important to him though as he is big with his action. We could mix and match between novice chases and handicaps with him as he has that sort of profile.
“If he could do something like he did at Sandown Park last season that would be great as we can then build his season around that.”
SAYVA
“He ran well on his first time over fences at Kempton Park. He was quite professional, but he got beaten fairly easily, however he will come on for that run.
“He is more settled this season and he should be able to win off his mark of one hundred and twenty-two.”
SO PROUD
“He is a horse that we bought from Don Cantillon. He won a bumper for Don up at Haydock Park. He looks a hardy type of horse and should be capable of showing up this season for us.”
TELLHERTHENAME
“Unfortunatley he bled up at Carlisle the other day and he has now gone home for a bit. It is a shame as is a talented horse.”
VANDERFLIER
“He will probably go straight over hurdles. He won his last point-to-point quite nicely. He looked quite green, but once he got his ducks in his row he stayed on very strongly to win.
“He is five now so we will get the ball rolling over hurdles, but he is a chaser in the making.”
WELLINGTON ARCH
Watch how Wellington Arch scored at Aintree in April
“We were last in at the weights at Aintree, but Jonjo gave him a great ride. He was able to dictate and do as he pleased and luckily it worked out on the day.
“He then ran well over at Punchestown and put up another cracking performance there. He missed one late on, but I don’t think that contributed to him being beaten.
“The plan is to start him off over hurdles and we will make a plan off the back of that. We can go whichever way with him.
“He is a lovely horse that will hopefully give us some good days out this season. Whether he goes chasing this season or next year I’m not sure.”
WE’RE RED AND BLUE
“He will probably start over hurdles, but again he is a big fine horse that would hopefully go well over a fence at some stage. I think another year to strengthen up would do him an awful lot of good. We would like to think there a few more fun days out of hurdles with him.
“We pitched him into a hot race on the final day of the season at Sandown Park as we do like him.”
WILFUL
“The Greatwood Hurdle could be something we look at for him as he ran a cracker at Chepstow on his return in the Welsh Champion Hurdle. He has come out of that race quite well.
“It would be a nice gap between the two races so it could suit him well. If he doesn’t go there we will be looking at those types of competitive handicap hurdles with him as he also ran a cracker at Punchestown back in the spring after winning at Ayr previously.
“We hoped he would strengthen up to help him take another step forward and it looks like he has.”
WRECKLESS ERIC
“The plan is to go straight to the Greatwood Hurdle with him. It was a fantastic run in the Imperial Cup last season. He was then down the field when we stepped him up to two and a half miles up at Aintree.
“He fits the profile of the type of horse that you want for the Greatwood and then after that we will make a plan for the rest of the season.
“I think he will stay over hurdles for the season.”
Get £1000+ in free bets with Racing TV!
Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.
Copyright 2025 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2025. All rights reserved