Thomas McNeill
1909 - 1957
1909 - 1957
Tommy McNeill is best remembered for his association with Airgead Sios. Together they mopped up several good races including the Champion Chase, Cheltenham Grand Annual, the Becher Chase (twice), the King George VI Chase and the Victory Chase.
Tommy McNeill is best remembered for his association with Airgead Sios. Together they mopped up several good races including the Champion Chase, Cheltenham Grand Annual, the Becher Chase (twice), the King George VI Chase and the Victory Chase.
Thomas William McNeill was born in Ireland in 1909. He was a successful jockey in his homeland, riding for leading trainers Senator J.J. Parkinson and Max Arnott before moving to Britain. He won the 1930 Lancashire Chase at Manchester aboard Max Arnott’s East Galway on his very first ride in England, and later that year won the Galway Handicap Chase (known today as the Galway Plate) on the same horse.
Thomas William McNeill was born in Ireland in 1909. He was a successful jockey in his homeland, riding for leading trainers Senator J.J. Parkinson and Max Arnott before moving to Britain. He won the 1930 Lancashire Chase at Manchester aboard Max Arnott’s East Galway on his very first ride in England, and later that year won the Galway Handicap Chase (known today as the Galway Plate) on the same horse.
He settled in England in 1931 and rode as stable jockey to Percy Woodland, who trained at Cholderton, in Wiltshire. The first good horse he rode for Woodland was the chaser Prince Marlo, on whom he won nine times, including the Worcester Grand Annual Chase in 1933 and, in 1935, the Newbury Handicap Chase, the Sandown Open Trial Handicap Chase and Cheltenham’s Holman Cup. Another good chaser he partnered for Woodland was Noni’s Garter, on whom he won the Champagne Cup Chase at Fontwell and the “National” Qualification Chase at Towcester in 1933.
He settled in England in 1931 and rode as stable jockey to Percy Woodland, who trained at Cholderton, in Wiltshire. The first good horse he rode for Woodland was the chaser Prince Marlo, on whom he won nine times, including the Worcester Grand Annual Chase in 1933 and, in 1935, the Newbury Handicap Chase, the Sandown Open Trial Handicap Chase and Cheltenham’s Holman Cup. Another good chaser he partnered for Woodland was Noni’s Garter, on whom he won the Champagne Cup Chase at Fontwell and the “National” Qualification Chase at Towcester in 1933.
But by far the best horse he rode was the chestnut gelding Airgead Sios, a hard-pulling front-runner and a spectacular jumper. Owned by Sir Francis Towle and trained by Charles Tabor, he becameone of the most popular chasers of the late 1930s.
But by far the best horse he rode was the chestnut gelding Airgead Sios, a hard-pulling front-runner and a spectacular jumper. Owned by Sir Francis Towle and trained by Charles Tabor, he becameone of the most popular chasers of the late 1930s.
Tommy rode Airgead Sios for the first time on March 9, 1937 at the National Hunt meeting, winning the Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase by 10 lengths. Ten days later he won the Champion Chase over Liverpool Grand National fences by the same margin.
Tommy rode Airgead Sios for the first time on March 9, 1937 at the National Hunt meeting, winning the Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase by 10 lengths. Ten days later he won the Champion Chase over Liverpool Grand National fences by the same margin.
Airgead Sios was then put away until the following season. Meanwhile, Tommy enjoyed an Easter Monday double at Manchester, completed by Charles Tabor’s Santa Klaus in the Five Hundred Handicap Chase, and later won Cheltenham’s Holman Cup Chase for a second time on another Tabor-trained horse, Red Hillman.
Airgead Sios was then put away until the following season. Meanwhile, Tommy enjoyed an Easter Monday double at Manchester, completed by Charles Tabor’s Santa Klaus in the Five Hundred Handicap Chase, and later won Cheltenham’s Holman Cup Chase for a second time on another Tabor-trained horse, Red Hillman.
Tommy rode Airgead Sios in all eight of his starts in the 1937/38 season, winning four of them. They started off with victory in the Becher Chase over 2m 4f of the Grand National course, followed up over three miles at Newbury, then won Manchester’s Victory Chase over two miles on New Year’s Day 1938. Having won their first five races together, Tommy and Airgead Sios were surprisingly beaten into third place at 11/4 on at Lingfield next time out, then finished third again behind Macaulay and Golden Miller at Hurst Park. They returned to winning ways when winning Kempton’s King George VI Chase (held then in March, rather than its now traditional Boxing Day slot), holding off Macaulay by a head, with Morse Code in third place.
Tommy rode Airgead Sios in all eight of his starts in the 1937/38 season, winning four of them. They started off with victory in the Becher Chase over 2m 4f of the Grand National course, followed up over three miles at Newbury, then won Manchester’s Victory Chase over two miles on New Year’s Day 1938. Having won their first five races together, Tommy and Airgead Sios were surprisingly beaten into third place at 11/4 on at Lingfield next time out, then finished third again behind Macaulay and Golden Miller at Hurst Park. They returned to winning ways when winning Kempton’s King George VI Chase (held then in March, rather than its now traditional Boxing Day slot), holding off Macaulay by a head, with Morse Code in third place.
Their next appearance was in the 1938 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Blazing off in front as usual, Airgead Sios was still in contention when a bad blunder three from home finished his chances, trailing home in fifth-placed behind Morse Code, Golden Miller, Macaulay and Southern Hero. Later that month they took their chance in the Grand National. Airgead Sios led the field a merry dance from the start, leading over Becher’s and being three lengths in front when falling at the fence after Valentine’s on the first circuit.
Their next appearance was in the 1938 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Blazing off in front as usual, Airgead Sios was still in contention when a bad blunder three from home finished his chances, trailing home in fifth-placed behind Morse Code, Golden Miller, Macaulay and Southern Hero. Later that month they took their chance in the Grand National. Airgead Sios led the field a merry dance from the start, leading over Becher’s and being three lengths in front when falling at the fence after Valentine’s on the first circuit.
Airgead Sios had just four starts during a truncated 1938/39 season, winning three of them, all with Tommy on board. Following a comfortable debut in a Wincanton conditions chase, they won the Becher Chase for the second year running. A bad blunder at the sixth fence saw Tommy unseated on their next outing at Newbury in February, but they were back in winning form when beating 1937 Grand National hero Royal Mail at Kempton in March.
Airgead Sios had just four starts during a truncated 1938/39 season, winning three of them, all with Tommy on board. Following a comfortable debut in a Wincanton conditions chase, they won the Becher Chase for the second year running. A bad blunder at the sixth fence saw Tommy unseated on their next outing at Newbury in February, but they were back in winning form when beating 1937 Grand National hero Royal Mail at Kempton in March.
While Airgead Sios’s campaign finished early, Tommy continued to enjoy plenty of success, notably on handicap hurdler Roundhead, on whom he won at Shirley Park and Wolverhampton in March and Worcester in April; and two-mile chaser Shadwick Place, who provided him with wins at Cheltenham and Fontwell in April and Colwall Park in May. He rode 100/1 outsider Birthgift in the 1939 Grand National but their race ended with a refusal at the fence before Becher’s second time round.
While Airgead Sios’s campaign finished early, Tommy continued to enjoy plenty of success, notably on handicap hurdler Roundhead, on whom he won at Shirley Park and Wolverhampton in March and Worcester in April; and two-mile chaser Shadwick Place, who provided him with wins at Cheltenham and Fontwell in April and Colwall Park in May. He rode 100/1 outsider Birthgift in the 1939 Grand National but their race ended with a refusal at the fence before Becher’s second time round.
Airgead Sios was by now becoming harder to keep sound and he was restricted to only three runs in the 1939/40 season. It started well enough with an eight-length victory in a minor race at Newbury in December, and he was an unlucky loser at the same course next time out in February, falling at the last fence when well clear, but he was beaten at odds of 9/4 on in a conditions race at Wolverhampton on March 18, 1940. That would be the last time Tommy O’Neill rode him in a race. He ran just once more the following season but broke down irretrievably.
Airgead Sios was by now becoming harder to keep sound and he was restricted to only three runs in the 1939/40 season. It started well enough with an eight-length victory in a minor race at Newbury in December, and he was an unlucky loser at the same course next time out in February, falling at the last fence when well clear, but he was beaten at odds of 9/4 on in a conditions race at Wolverhampton on March 18, 1940. That would be the last time Tommy O’Neill rode him in a race. He ran just once more the following season but broke down irretrievably.
Tommy, meanwhile, carried on as before, winning that year’s National Hunt Juvenile Chase at Cheltenham on Charles Tabor’s Much Too Dear. His other winners included a two-mile handicap chase on Discretion in what would prove to be the penultimate race ever run at Oswestry & Llanymynech on May 4, 1940, that being one of several courses that failed to reopen after the war.
Tommy, meanwhile, carried on as before, winning that year’s National Hunt Juvenile Chase at Cheltenham on Charles Tabor’s Much Too Dear. His other winners included a two-mile handicap chase on Discretion in what would prove to be the penultimate race ever run at Oswestry & Llanymynech on May 4, 1940, that being one of several courses that failed to reopen after the war.
With British National Hunt racing becoming ever more restricted, Tommy returned to Ireland that summer, where he won a second Galway Plate, this time on Ring of Gold for trainer Harry Ussher. Later that year he won the Webster Cup Chase at Navan on the same horse. He continued to ride successfully in Ireland throughout the war years, his high-profile victories including the 1944 Conyngham Cup at Punchestown on future Grand National hero Lovely Cottage.
With British National Hunt racing becoming ever more restricted, Tommy returned to Ireland that summer, where he won a second Galway Plate, this time on Ring of Gold for trainer Harry Ussher. Later that year he won the Webster Cup Chase at Navan on the same horse. He continued to ride successfully in Ireland throughout the war years, his high-profile victories including the 1944 Conyngham Cup at Punchestown on future Grand National hero Lovely Cottage.
He eventually returned to ride in England and had three winners during the 1948/49 season, including two on a handicap hurdler named Ladies Beware, at Ludlow in March and Cheltenham in April. He rode just one winner the following season, the last of his career, that being on Guerrier for Royston trainer Willie Stephenson in the Beginners’ Hurdle at Worcester on October 10, 1949.
He eventually returned to ride in England and had three winners during the 1948/49 season, including two on a handicap hurdler named Ladies Beware, at Ludlow in March and Cheltenham in April. He rode just one winner the following season, the last of his career, that being on Guerrier for Royston trainer Willie Stephenson in the Beginners’ Hurdle at Worcester on October 10, 1949.
After his racing career had ended he worked in an iron foundry.
After his racing career had ended he worked in an iron foundry.
Thomas McNeill died at Lutterworth, near Rugby, on January 25, 1957, aged 47.
Thomas McNeill died at Lutterworth, near Rugby, on January 25, 1957, aged 47.
His ten wins on Airgead Sios were as follows:
His ten wins on Airgead Sios were as follows:
March 10, 1937: Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Cheltenham
March 10, 1937: Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Cheltenham
March 20, 1937: Champion Chase, Liverpool
March 20, 1937: Champion Chase, Liverpool
November 11, 1937: Becher Chase, Liverpool
November 11, 1937: Becher Chase, Liverpool
December 1, 1937: Open Chase, Newbury
December 1, 1937: Open Chase, Newbury
January 1, 1938: Victory Chase, Manchester
January 1, 1938: Victory Chase, Manchester
March 2, 1938: King George VI Chase, Kempton
March 2, 1938: King George VI Chase, Kempton
October 15, 1938: Lattiford Chase, Wincanton
October 15, 1938: Lattiford Chase, Wincanton
November 9, 1938: Becher Chase, Liverpool
November 9, 1938: Becher Chase, Liverpool
March 1, 1939: Manor Chase, Kempton
March 1, 1939: Manor Chase, Kempton
December 6, 1939: Optional Selling Chase, Newbury
December 6, 1939: Optional Selling Chase, Newbury
1938 King George at Kempton. Tommy McNeill, who has just come out of hospital,
1938 King George at Kempton. Tommy McNeill, who has just come out of hospital,
leads from Morse Code on Airgead Sios before hanging on for a short head victory.
leads from Morse Code on Airgead Sios before hanging on for a short head victory.