John Joseph "Jonjo" O'Neill (born 13 April 1952) is an Irish

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

trainer and former

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

Life and career

He was born in

Castletownroche Castletownroche () is a townland, village, and civil parish in the barony of Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the N72 national secondary road. In ancient times, it was known in Irish as ''Dún Chruadha'', meaning Cruadha's Fort ...

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England. O'Neill twice won the British Champion Jockey title (1977–78 & 1979–80) and won the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

on the mare,

Dawn Run Dawn Run (1978–1986) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful mare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festi ...

who became the only horse to complete the double of winning the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

and the Gold Cup at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Race ...

. He won 900 races as a jockey. At the 2009

, Wichita Lineman, an O'Neill-trained horse, won the William Hill Trophy. On 10 April 2010, Jonjo O'Neill trained

Don't Push It Don't Push It (foaled 6 June 2000) is a retired British thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grand National in 2010. He was trained by Jonjo O'Neill at Jackdaws Castle yard near Cheltenham and ran in the green and yellow silks of owner J. P. Mc ...

to win the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

. In seven attempts as a jockey he had never completed the course but Don't Push It, ridden by the champion jockey

Tony McCoy Sir Anthony Peter McCoy (born 4 May 1974), commonly known as AP McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish former National Hunt horse racing jockey. Based in Ireland and Britain, McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners and was Champion Jockey a recor ...

(whose best finishes in fourteen previous attempts had been third places) overtook Black Apalachi at the last fence and pulled clear on the run-in to win by five lengths. In March 2012 he trained Synchronised to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. His son, also named Jonjo, is a National Hunt jockey.

Major wins as jockey

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

– (2) Alverton (1979),

(1986) *

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

– (2) – Sea Pigeon (1980),

(1984) *

Christmas Hurdle The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 m ...

– (2) Ekbalco (1982),

(1983) *

Fighting Fifth Hurdle The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is r ...

– (1) Out of the Gloom (1985) * Finale Juvenile Hurdle – (1) Out of The Gloom (1984) *

Scilly Isles Novices' Chase The Scilly Isles Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain, which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of around two mi ...

– (1) Karenomore (1985) * Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle – (1) Starfen (1980) *

Top Novices' Hurdle The Top Novices' Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

– (2) Prousto (1978), Rimondo (1979) * Mersey Novices' Hurdle – (1) Out of the Gloom (1985) *

Maghull Novices' Chase The Maghull Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run a ...

– (1) Night Nurse (1979) *

Liverpool Hurdle The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is run a ...

– (1) Prominent King (1979) ---- Ireland *

Irish Champion Hurdle The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and ...

– (2) Royal Vulcan (1983),

(1984)

Major wins as trainer

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

– (1) Don't Push It (2010) *

– (2) Intersky Falcon (2002,2003) * Finale Juvenile Hurdle – (1) Hunt Hill (1998) *

Challow Novices' Hurdle The Challow Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs ...

– (3) Coolnagorna (2003), Wichita Lineman (2007), Taquin du Seuil (2013) * Tolworth Novices' Hurdle – (2) Miros (2002), Lingo (2004) * Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle – (1) Quazar (2002) *

Betway Bowl The Alder Hey Aintree Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 fu ...

– (1) Exotic Dancer (2007) *

Aintree Hurdle The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs ( ...

– (1) Rhinestone Cowboy (2004) *

Melling Chase The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 m ...

– (1) Albertas Run (2010) *

Sefton Novices' Hurdle The Sefton Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and hal ...

– (1) Black Jack Ketchum (2006) *

Mildmay Novices' Chase The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade One National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the ...

– (1) Holywell (2014) *

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

– (1) Synchronised (2012) ---- Ireland *

Punchestown Champion Hurdle The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and duri ...

(1) Quazar (2003) *

Champion Stayers Hurdle The Champion Stayers Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during i ...

– (2) Rhinestone Cowboy (2004), Refinement (2007) *

Champion INH Flat Race The Champion INH Flat Race is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Ireland for amateur riders which is open to racing horses aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and � ...

– (1) Refinement (2005) *

Savills Chase The Savills Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and ...

– (2) Exotic Dancer (2008), Synchronised (2011) *

Champion Four Year Old Hurdle The Champion Four Year Old Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its ...

– (2) Quazar (2002), Cherub (2004) *

Irish Grand National The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5, ...

– (2) Butlers Cabin (2007), Shutthefrontdoor (2014)

Cheltenham Festival winners (26)

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

– (1) Synchronised (2012) *

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 m ...

– (2) Iris's Gift (2004), More Of That (2014) *

Ryanair Chase The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs ...

– (2) Albertas Run (2010,2011) *

Triumph Hurdle The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ...

– (1) Spectroscope (2003) * Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle – (2) Black Jack Ketchum (2006), Wichita Lineman (2007) *

Golden Miller Novices' Chase The Golden Miller Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, is a Grade Two National Hunt limited handicap chase in Great Britain which is ...

– (1) Taquin du Seuil (2014) *

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup The National Hunt Challenge Cup is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of abo ...

– (6) Front Line (1995), Rith Dubh (2002), Sudden Shock (2003), Native Emperor (2004), Butler's Cabin (2007), Minella Rocco (2016) *

Festival Trophy Handicap Chase The Festival Trophy is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of ...

– (3) Wichita Lineman (2009), Alfie Sherrin (2012), Holywell (2014) *

County Handicap Hurdle The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a dist ...

– (1) Master Tern (2000) *

Pertemps Final The Pertemps Network Final is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a dis ...

– (4) Danny Connors (1991), Inching Closer (2003), Creon (2004), Holywell (2013) *

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a National Hunt steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders; it is open to horses aged five years or older. The chase i ...

– (1) Sunnyhillboy (2012) *

St James's Place Foxhunter Chase The St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase is a National Hunt racing, National Hunt steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged fi ...

– (1) Drombeag (2007) *

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Chelte ...

– (1) Sky Pirate (2021)

References

External links

Jonjo O'Neill Racing

BBC biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneill, Jonjo 1952 births Living people Irish jockeys Irish racehorse trainers British Champion jumps jockeys People from Castletownroche Equestrians from County Cork