Jonjo O'Neill outlines early season plans for his stable stars
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Racinguk.com staff
Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco will make his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown in the Irish Daily Star Chase on October 19.
Winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Festival in 2016, he put a disappointing first half of last season behind him by returning to his best in March, only losing out to Sizing John.
Not surprisingly his campaign will be geared around a return to Prestbury Park in March.
"He is going to Punchestown later this month. There is a nice three-mile chase there. We will see how we get on and take it from there," said O'Neill.
"Hopefully he will go back to the Gold Cup, that would be the ideal plan, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge. I'd like to see him run and get the first race under his belt."
O'Neill believes More Of That's succession of problems are behind him and the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, both on November 4, are possible starting points.
He said: "I would like to start him off in the Charlie Hall. I've not spoken to Frank (Berry), so we will see, but that is one of the places he might start, or he might go to the race in Ireland in the north.
More Of That is set to reappear in the Charlie Hall Chase
"He has come back in great form and I am really pleased with him at home and he seems in grand old shape. All his problems are hopefully behind him."
Taquin Du Seuil, winner of the BetVictor Gold Cup and second in the Coral Cup last season will start off over hurdles.
O'Neill said: "He is in good form and he will stay hurdling this year. He will either go to Wetherby for the West Yorkshire Hurdle or to France the same weekend. He is in great form at home and we are looking forward to running him.
"He is handicapped to the hilt over fences and seems to handle hurdling very well. We might change things if things don't go right."
Related posts
Five horses to follow at York on Wednesday
Five horses to follow at York and Perth on Thursday
Wednesday tips: Dave Nevison's best bets at York
Saturday ante-post tips: "he could be miles ahead of his mark"
Dante Stakes: read what connections have to say
Featured offers
Bet £10 & Get £30 in free bets with bet365
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets in Multis with Betfair
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + Money back 2nd to SP fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets with Betano
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved