Two winners and one horse lost.

In the opener at Doncaster Playtogetaway just confirmed he wanted a longer trip. New Beginnings is either currently useless or not over his problems. Prince Escalus was outclassed. He showed enough to suggest he might be up to winning something less competitive in the Spring. Rocked Up was fatally injured. I didn't see it, but today was the day for Half The Freedom (7/1-16/1-8/1). Perhaps the ground, perhaps the jock on for a second time. Although he ended up winning with a degree of comfort he didn't particularly travel like a good thing. I will reserve judgement until he does that again.

At Huntingdon Trapista lacked a gear. Message to John Hunt: it's no good travelling like Nijinsky if there is nothing on the end of it. Another poor tactical ride. One day they might ride her forward. Imperial Bede (7/2-8/1) travelled well and won nicely. Was that just a load of bull about him hanging left last time to cover a poor ride? There didn't seem any problems today beyond a bit of early scrimmaging. Not the most inspired ride you will ever see on Lock's Corner. For some reason today wasn't the day, and only the first four qualified for the Final. I assume JP has got something else lined up for that. Today's result was a glorious one for the bookmakers with a totally exposed horse beating the unexposed improvers.

Following on from Glimpse Of Gala another good, no nonsense ride, from Bradley Roberts on Parramount. A million miles better than the inept effort from Coleman on his previous start. Hopefully, the Stewards had a word with Kielan Woods about his use of the whip on Storminhome. It looked as if he deliberately used it in the wrong hand to intimidate his rival.

Just noticed Blenkinsop has been pulled out. I hope Daly hasn't just taken him out on some sort of whim having stated this was his target all week. It was a bonkers enough decision not to enter at the Festival, but he had every chance of winning tomorrow, and had been backed accordingly. It was strange that he was never listed with a jockey.

I would have with Easysland you either retire him, or send him back to the trainer who got something out of him. That looks long overdue. O'Neill has masterminded one of the worst declines in racing. Today he made a bit of late progress, but effectively he was never at the races. Even on his favoured ground all too much for Cloth Cap. Once he got cut off at the pass it was white flag time. Little bit of promise from Front View, but he faces that dreaded bounce next time.

Plenty of big events today, but I thought it was a dreadful punting day. Blenkinsop (self certificate) was best of the day by miles, and he didn't show. Hard to believe he wouldn't have featured strongly in that race. That left two small bets, Dashel Drasher and Dino Bellagio. Dashel Drasher was a little bit unfortunate to have to cope with the attentions of Botox Has, and then the only French winner I can remember this season. Lovely bookmakers result. Dino Bellagio was very impressive in the closing bumper. He has plenty of pace, and the Aintree might suit.

The Cotswold Chase just emphasised what an open division it is. He got away with it today, but I don't think you ever be confident in a horse who does as much wrong as Ahoy Senor. The kinks show no signs of being sorted. I doubt Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny are going be too worried about what happened in the Triumph Hurdle. O'Neill again with his whip in the wrong hand got away with it. Editeur Du Gite produced the kind of performance I hoped he could do last year, and the handicap chase looks strong form with the front two pulling clear. Tommy's Oscar was very impressive at Doncaster. I would have that Aintree might suit him better than Cheltenham. Found A Fifty was probably the horse to take from Fairyhouse, although this season is likely blocks ahead of a chasing career.

Four runners tomorrow, three at Southwell and the other at Fontwell.

Two in what looks quite a competitive Southwell bumper. Cawthorne Banker was disappointing last time, and as I suggested at the time you would be hoping that better ground might help his cause. Nitwit, a 105,000 3yo, is well bred being a half brother to Oscar Elite from the family of Lord Windermere and Sub Lieutenant. That would imply he will be better with time, but he is obviously worth watching tomorrow. Smiling Getaway (235,000) was an impressive Point winner, but the form has not worked out, and Norman Fletcher showed promise on debut. Mammies Boy ran well enough behind an easy winner last time, but will need to improve to place again. Spitalfield makes his stable debut in the closing bumper at Fontwell. Although he chased home a one time favourite for the Festival Bumper at Thurles, it is worth bearing in mind he only cost 65,000, and that was probably a very weak race.

I remember going to the Duke's Open Days. Despite his reputation he was one of the first, if not the first, to embrace the idea of making a stable accessible to the general public. Of course that all that stopped when Jonjo took over. The public seemed to love him as a jockey, but as a trainer he continues to do little more than effectively stick two fingers up to them.

Two shocking performances, one expected, the other I am not too sure about.

I thought Head Law could easily have been a 3/1 shot today, but there was nothing for him. Everything looked in his favour, but scenic trip, and never looked likely at any stage. Seemingly, a large step backwards. Orrisdale was beaten after a couple of fences.

Over at Punchestown Princess Zoe scrambled a dead heat. On that evidence it looks hugely optimistic to even cross the water. Sa Fureur displayed a nice attitude in looking to out stay La Malmason. Sir Argus threw away the novice hurdle with an horrific round of jumping. He wasn't great last time, but he was even worse sent forward. Rare that you see one from that stable so inept at the obstacles.

That hat trick a distant memory.

I was lucky to land the each-way on Morning Spirit. He looked a different horse today, ballooning fence after fence. He must have lost 10-12 lengths at the obstacles. Fame And Concrete was better than on debut, but yet another ridden for a gear he hadn't got. Dollar Bae still wants further and much better ground. Noticeable how few times horses ridden by O'Neill actually make ground at an obstacle. Far more likely to lose it which is a major disadvantage when you are intent on holding nearly everything up.

Hard work today, particularly at Ffos Las. More than one horse travelled best into the straight only to get turned over.

Five runners tomorrow, three at Exeter, and two at Leicester.

Destin D'ajonc has looked completely out of form, and drying ground unlikely to help his cause. Copper Cove hasn't run for nearly three months, and will need to improve if he is to place. Lorcan Murtagh retains the ride on Sacre Coeur. She bounced back last time, but this is an entirely different track, and quicker ground. On The Bandwagon returns to Leicester despite a note saying he jumped left. That was a better effort under Brogan, but it was a poor race, and likely he needs more to be competitive again. Uptown Lady makes her chasing debut after nearly two year's absence. Not so sure getting 4lbs from Moonlighter makes her well handicapped. You would think a clear round would be the first priority.

Another predictable day. The percentage continues to fall, and that's now 21 losers in a row.

Sermando did finish his race off this time, but was fortunate to finish fourth. Montmartin and Rocco Royale raced together in the novice hurdle, but the latter soon left his stablemate behind. He was another who benefitted from a little bit of carnage. Not sure what is going on with Shuil Ceoil. That's twice they have effectively used the racecourse as a schooling ground. It worked so badly he has ended up falling. They have guaranteed that if he ever reproduces the promise of his Point run only the bookmakers will be celebrating. Dana's Gem was struggling with a circuit to run, and took another step backwards.

Big day numerically with eight runners at Chepstow tomorrow.

Crebilly returns after Wedge outrode O'Neill last time. Wedge again very much the one to beat with Doyen Star. O'Neill also runs Anytrixwilldo who was a relatively cheap purchase considering he is a full brother to the stable's Beg To Differ from the family of Atone and Music Be Magic. The mare just seems to revisit Flemensfirth. He will surely need a longer trip, and seems unlikely to figure on the front end. I suggested last time they should have claimed off Crebilly, and it looks a similar story tomorrow. He isn't a difficult ride. Limetree Boy is another who returns after a three month absence. If stripping fit his hurdles form suggests he should have a chance, and drying ground should help his cause. Inch House has looked one-paced, and needs to improve. Drying ground probably not a plus. Monbeg Genius is up 10lbs for three wins, but he was good over course and distance before so I don't see why he shouldn't make all. He looks easily the best chance of a stable winner. Arrivederci hasn't won for more than two years, and has cut little ice in three starts over fences. Hard to see it off this mark. Are U Wise To That is another who looks to have enough weight. Didn't get home last time, and needs to improve his jumping . Better ground might help. By Chepstow standards it looks a weak bumper, but Beachcomber needs to step up markedly to figure. He has already been pulled out once before on good to soft.

Don't think Jonjo could've ran that horse into many more hurdles if he tried.

Beware. Both of the horses that beat him were Rucker/Williams who have a very strong hand of novices this season. Libberty Hunter, Out of Office and 2 others that won at Ffos Las as well as Doyen Star.

And then they win one.

Another day in the sun. I think that's three times this season.

A case of deja vu with Wedge getting the better of O'Neill in the opener. No nonsense ride on a horse who jumps and travels. Nice bit of promise from Anytrixwilldo who should onviously benefit from a step up in trip. When he gets it is another question. Limetree Boy made one terrible mistake, and got in deep a few times. He looks like he could benefit from a Richard Johnson style ride. Inch House benefitted from an end to end gallop, and a couple of rivals disappointing. He still looked a little awkward in closing stages, but this was a step forward. Long term you could envisage him as a National type. Monbeg Genius made all, and with one exception his jumping won him the race. Arrivederci was well positioned towards the front end, but couldn't sustain his effort in the straight. Bit of a strange effort from Are U Wise To That. He appeared to travel then got outpaced before staying on again. Probably worth a try over further. Beachcomber was very weak in market, but he appeared to travel nicely, again towards the front, and forged clear from two furlongs out. This was a huge step forward from his Carlisle debut.

Almost a rest day tomorrow with just the two at Sandown. Dr Hegarty has no chance in opener, and Flight Deck probably needs a career best to take the staying handicap. Drying ground doesn't look a plus. I am surprised that they haven't found another Pertemps qualifier for him.

Elsewhere it is a very weak looking Scilly Isles. I am surprised they are even running Gerri Colombe. He looks much the best, but he surely wants a stiffer test at this trip. At Leopardstown I would hope to see a better run from Absolute Notions on a quicker surface, and it will be interesting to see if Banbridge has the pace to put it up to the favourites in the novice chase. At the moment the Turners looks a better bet for him than the Arkle. Disappointing line up for the Irish Gold Cup. Couldn't we have found something to take the hotpot on?

Yes, I wish they all drifted like that and won.

No stable entries until Tuesday.

Three at Market Rasen, all part of the large batch that are returning having had three months off.

Cedar Row didn't show a lot on stable debut, and on much quicker ground this looks a tough ask. Presumably, Betty's Banjo had an issue last time. If you can ignore that run she would have a chance on ground that should suit. Mellicent landed the odds on stable debut, but her Irish run looks much better form. If she can reproduce that effort she has an each-way chance. Sherwood has really talked up the favourite, and she needs to win well to justify the comments.

For those that might be interested:-

https://www.attheraces.com/stable-tours/jonjo-o'neill

Sadly, for the most part it tells you less than I do on this thread. There's no commitment to anything running at the Festival. Anyone can look up the entries themselves.

Sadly, punters kept the faith in Half The Freedom, but he never looked likely to justify short priced favouritism. Not sure he needed a wide trip, but he was never travelling which seems to be a trait. Presumably, Brogan will now replace Brace.

Just one at each meeting tomorrow. Piper Tom goes in that weak Kempton novice, so weak he is second favourite. On different ground to his debut, the market is the only guide for punters. Gwennie May Boy has another run at Bangor. I can only imagine this has something to do with the owner because he looks as if he wants a more galloping track, and a step up in distance. Brogan doesn't appear to have done anything wrong on the horse so a bit surprised they are claiming off him. He needs to brush up his jumping, but he has an each-way chance.

Just returning to the stable tour. They highlight an ex-pointer called Hey Day Baby. She took four goes to actually win a point, and would have been a relatively cheap purchase. Johnny Who probably cost ten times that amount yet there is hardly a dickie bird. Nothing as to what has gone wrong since he joined the stable. At least it now seems they have given up a hurdling campaign for this season.

All the concerns about Gwennie May Boy proved to be spot on. A terrible performance, and fingers burnt again. In the same race Twiston-Davies again showing why he has no equals as the king of the weighing room bunglers. Supposed top jock, but nobody ever calls him out. Noel Fehily has got hold of several good horses, but trust O'Neill to get one of the duffers. That's what it looks like with Piper Tom. Bar the winner that was likely an awful race today. Once they went a bit quicker his jumping fell apart.

Just the two runners again on Saturday.

Coeur Serin goes in an interesting three runner novices handicap. At the weights he is the equal of McFabulous. They have all gone forward, and hopefully, O'Neill does just that. That's how the horse ran well for Brace at Chepstow. Chances are O'Neill will just ignore that as he did last time. Letmetellusomethin goes in the novice at Warwick. He shaped quite well on hurdling debut, and he wouldn't have to take a huge step forward to finish third or fourth, in fact it would be disappointing if he didn't.

I will give O'Neill the benefit of the doubt, and suggest he wanted to go forward, but couldn't muster the pace. In the end he has probably benefitted from the favourite blowing out, and the leader going a touch too quickly. He has an entry in the National Hunt Chase, and in a poor year, I don't see why he shouldn't take his chance. He was eighth in the Pertemps last year.

What to make of Jonbon? Watching the race with March in mind, I think I would be more worried about Coleman than the horse. It looked to me that Skelton caught him totally unawares, and in the end Jonbon has shown a good attitude to reel the leader in. Elsewhere on the card Hullnback was impressive in beating not very much, and Favour And Fortune took the bumper in the style of a horse worthy of a crack at the Festival Bumper. The same owner's Bowenspark ran an interesting race in the concluding Newbury bumper. Patrick got him into a poor position, and let's be generous and say he wasn't exactly busy up the straight. Earlier on the card Zanza confirmed how much he likes Newbury by running away with a poor Denman Chase. Why run him elsewhere? I am not keen on flat breds in bumpers but Samui was probably the one to take away from Naas. He picked up well to eventually run away from the strong travelling leader. Just checked and no Cheltenham quotes for either bumper winner. Wakey wakey.

All three negatives may have contributed to Front View's demise, but whatever the reasons he quickly folded once the pace picked up. On the other hand all went well for Prince Escalus. The fact that he outjumped Rose Sea was probably crucial to the win.

A day that started well, but tailed off.

Springwell Bay won without being asked any sort of question. Difficult to know what he achieved as the second probably isn't anything special, and it looks as if the favourite didn't stay. One thing is for sure it looks a bit daft not having chanced an entry in the Ballymore and Albert Bartlett. Unfortunately, the trainer seems to believe everything is a handicap project. There probably isn't much worse in the game than a jock not trying, and the Stewards either not noticing, or deliberately turning a blind eye. That's what happened with Petit Tonnerre today who thanks to O'Neill stopping riding finished fifth instead of fourth. There should be a way of looking at these cases retrospectively. He deserved a ban. Irrespective of what happened at the finish, it was another really poor ride. He seemed to have learnt nothing from last time, dropping the horse out in a slowly run race, and then making a bungle he could have done without. He made progress, but couldn't sustain the run. Beginning to wonder whether the ineptness of the jock is making me think the horse is better than he actually is. Ipso Fury (form boosted in the earlier race) was another held up in a slowly run race, and although he made some progress he was another to produce a tame finish. No surprise if he is dropped back in trip. Bethka was a bit keen tracking the leader in the bumper, and was another to engage reverse in the straight. Weak in the market, and a very disappointing performance.

At Haydock I don't think course or ground suited Time To Get Up. He never travelling with enough enthusiasm to take a hand. He cried enough from the turn for home. He jumps soundly even, but it's a style suited to much softer ground, and a galloping track. I wouldn't drop for this, and if he gets the right conditions a second Midlands National might be on the cards. Maypole Class, very much a gelding, jumped left throughout (not great at Haydock), and consequently never really travelled. No obvious signs that the wind operation has worked. Collectors Dream ran well enough, but couldn't confirm the Kempton form on 4lbs worse terms. I think he would have preferred an end to end gallop rather than Jones messing about on the front end.

Just a word for one of the also rans in that race. The course, ground, and the way the race was run were all very much against De Legislator, and as a result he never looked as if he would figure. To his credit he kept plugging away. Testing conditions on a galloping track, and I don't think he would be beaten 25 lengths.

Just Trapista tomorrow. Still waiting/hoping to see her being allowed to use her jumping on the front end.

Dreadful ride on Big Ambitions. Very weak in the market, and never gave it a chance of winning. The last thing a galloper wants is a wall of horses in front of him. It doesn't help that he is ballooning his hurdles, and perhaps fences will eventually see him in a better light. Sadly, McLernon is currently on the sidelines. Fame And Concrete bungled his way round again, and never looked anything but very slow. Walk Of No Shame won very easily despite a horlicks of the second last. She probably had little to beat with the favourite hanging left in the straight. Another serious market drifter, Walk In My Shoes jumped very well, but doesn't seem to have the engine to match. Safe to say that the better ground didn't improve Merveillo, and a hurdling career looks pointless unless someone is trying to work a massive dodge. Morning Spirit continues to disappoint. After a sluggish start he got to the front, but was taken on, and he was already waving a white flag with a circuit to run.

Two at Market Rasen tomorrow. Valentine Getaway has a decent pedigree, but looks completely outclassed. Ilestdancingspirit plugged on late on his bumper debut without suggesting he was likely to win next time.

Two irritations. Are Sky Sports Racing best mates with O'Neill? It is bad enough when Cattermole refers to him as Jonge, but Hammond was doing the same today. No real surprise, but Chapman could make anything unwatchable. Everything is about him. It seems he really believes he is the star of the show. The stupid singing, the oh so pally interviews, the constant references to the whip. The guy is a total dick. He doesn't need to go out every day to prove it.