By Sean Trivass
My final stable tour pre-Cheltenham was one of the more interesting, though be warned at the start – there are very few if any punting jewels that were unearthed on the day.
Driving into Jackdaws Castle, training base of Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, the first thing that strikes you is the magnitude of the estate.
At first glance it looks perfect, the 5* Burj Al Arab of the racing world, every blade of grass in place, every fence post a glistering white – and enough to take my breath away.
Warmly welcomed as we wandered in (sausage baps and a cup of coffee are always a good start), we gathered in the inner sanctum of the owners’ room with an amazing view out over the stables and the horses – this is racing heaven.
After watching the horses circling the stables before we all headed out to the gallops, this was fantasy stuff for yours truly, with the horses, the staff, and us mere guests treated like royalty from start to finish.
Jonjo O’Neill
As a brief history for the youngsters among you, Jonjo rode two Gold Cup winners as a jockey on Alverton and the legendary Dawn Run, and won the race in 2012 with Synchronised as a trainer with the yard responsible for over 2,600 winners, 31 of those at Grade One level, and 27 at the Cheltenham Festival – this is a yard who know exactly what they are doing.
Talking to Jonjo who is continually smiling throughout, it seemed to me most of his Cheltenham horses would be running in the handicaps – and you would get more out of mime legend Marcel Marceau than Jonjo gave away, though that was down to awaiting their final handicap marks and then defining their targets more than any reluctance to talk to the media.
That took nothing away from an excellent morning in the sunshine watching the horses working on the all-weather gallop, and we still came up with a quartet that look like they have chances.
Sadly, they all have multiple current entries so please bet with a non-runner no bet bookmaker if at all, or better still wait for the 48 hour declarations to find their final targets.
Jipcot
One of the few horses not paraded for us this morning he did get a positive mention from both Jonjo and AJ as one in with a squeak ahead of one of the Coral Cup (40/1), The Pertemps (40/1), the County Hurdle (33/1) or the Martin Pipe (40/1)– not too helpful I admit, but I am not suggesting anyone jimp on antepost now – why not wait until race days to see where he neds up?.
Springwell Bay
There was no doubt at all during our conversations that he is their best Cheltenham horse – but sadly that does not make him a good thing.
Another with more than one entry at this time (Arkle (33/1) /Brown Advisory (50/1) /Grand Annual (16/1) /Jack Richards (12/1) /Ryanair (33/1) /Plate (12/1) he looks to be their biggest hope to me and will be seen at his best via an end to end gallop which he is likely to get in any of those contests.
I doubt the Arkle is a serious consideration as he stays up to three miles, while the Ryanair may prove too hot for him, though if he heads to any of the others, he is worth consideration for a little each way?
Johnnywho
Only the three entries for the eight-year-old J P McManus gelding, with the Ultima (12/1), National Hunt Novices’ Chase (20/1), and the Kim Muir (14/1) all possibles.
He won’t want the ground too soft come race day and that may well determine his final target, but I can say he got a positive mention from both Jonjo and AJ which suggests he has some kind of a chance once they decide his final target.
Hasthing
Another eight-year-old chaser, and another owned by J P McManus, though he only has two entries, almost a cause for celebration!
33/1 for the National Hunt Chase and 16/1 for the Kim Muir, he also holds an entry at Uttoxeter in the Midlands Grand National straight after Cheltenham, and I get the feeling that may yet be a far more sensible target where I would most certainly open the wallet for a bet on the son of Konig Turf.
Jonjo O’Neill each way suggestions:
Jipcot
Springwell Bay
Johnnywho
Hasthing
All each way to small stakes in their chosen contests which are yet to be confirmed.
Photos via Megan Dent Photography
