Jonjo O’Neill Jr. is the current Champion Conditional Jump Jockey. Often referred to as “the Rising Star of the weighing room”, the 25-year-old was recently awarded the 2019 Lesters Conditional Jockey of the Year Award, which was presented live on Sky Sports.

Jonjo Jr. rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner in 2019 in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on Early Doors for trainer Joseph O’Brien and rode Elegant Escape in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jonjo Jr. is son of the prolific trainer and former Champion jockey Jonjo O’Neill, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice as a jockey and once as a trainer. Jonjo Jr. is an Ambassador for Hospitality Finder, who also sponsor his breeches. He writes a weekly racing column in The Cotswolds Gentlemen and is an Ambassador for Racing To School.

Aside from his father, Jonjo Jr. rides for a number of high profile owners and trainers such as JP McManus, Martin Pipe, Colin Tizzard, Gordon Elliot, Joseph O’Brien amongst others. The O’Neill family are based at Jackdaws Castle, arguably the finest training facility in British jump racing.

After early success as an amateur jockey, Jonjo Jr. took out a Conditional Jockey’s licence in 2018 and achieved impressive wins in his opening seasons, including the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton onboard Big Time Dancer, the Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Palmers Hill (for his father and in the JP McManus colours) as well as the Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on Ready and Able.

Jonjo Jr. was educated at Cheltenham College becoming Head of House and playing first team rugby and hockey for the school. At the age of 14, he represented Great Britain in Pony Racing, winning the International Shergar Cup in Ireland amongst others.

After leaving school with three A-Levels and 10 GCSE’s, Jonjo Jr. spent time learning the trade with Aiden O’Brien and Gordon Elliot in Ireland, Paul Nicolls in the UK and Guillaume Macaire in France.

2020-21

Wins Midlands Grand National on Time To Get Up

Wins Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Soaring Glory

Awarded a Lester for “Conditional Jockey of the Year”

2019-20

Crowned Champion Conditional Jockey

Rides Elegant Escape in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Wins the Denman Chase on Native River (Grade 2)

Receives Lester Award for Conditional Jockey of the Year

Records 50 winners

May – Wins treble at Stratford

April – Wins at the Punchestown Festival (Musical Slave)

April – Secures first treble (at Bangor)

March – First win at the Cheltenham Festival (Early Doors)

Jan – Wins the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton (Big Time Dancer)

2018
Nov – Wins Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (on Palmers Hill)

Oct – Wins the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Aintree (on Ready and Able)