Conal O'Neill
Conal O’Neill
Conal O’Neill
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Conal Patrick O’Neill rode five winners under National Hunt rules in the early 1950s, all for Wetherby-based trainer William Newton, with whom he was associated.
Conal Patrick O’Neill rode five winners under National Hunt rules in the early 1950s, all for Wetherby-based trainer William Newton, with whom he was associated.
He had his first ride at Taunton on February 9, 1950 when Benvoy Bay pulled up in the Novices’ Hurdle (Division II) but it would be more than two years before he tasted success.
He had his first ride at Taunton on February 9, 1950 when Benvoy Bay pulled up in the Novices’ Hurdle (Division II) but it would be more than two years before he tasted success.
His first win was a comfortable victory on Heavenly Blue in the Adbolton Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on March 3, 1952. They came close to following up when beaten a neck on their next outing at Doncaster two weeks later.
His first win was a comfortable victory on Heavenly Blue in the Adbolton Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on March 3, 1952. They came close to following up when beaten a neck on their next outing at Doncaster two weeks later.
He rode his second winner at Wetherby on Easter Monday when Occaney landed the Bilton Hurdle by half a length. A third success came at Market Rasen on May 10 when Calshot beat 14 rivals to take the Walesby Novices’ Hurdle (Division II) by six lengths. The pair struck again next time out when taking the Averham Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on September 6, this time by half a length.
He rode his second winner at Wetherby on Easter Monday when Occaney landed the Bilton Hurdle by half a length. A third success came at Market Rasen on May 10 when Calshot beat 14 rivals to take the Walesby Novices’ Hurdle (Division II) by six lengths. The pair struck again next time out when taking the Averham Handicap Hurdle at Southwell on September 6, this time by half a length.
The three-year-old Parting Shot provided Conal with his fifth and final winner in the Abbeystead Hurdle on the second day of Liverpool’s autumn meeting, November 6, 1952, beating two of the greatest hurdle race specialist jockeys of all time. Harry Sprague was second, beaten a length on Flight, and Johnny Gilbert was third on Patrocle.
The three-year-old Parting Shot provided Conal with his fifth and final winner in the Abbeystead Hurdle on the second day of Liverpool’s autumn meeting, November 6, 1952, beating two of the greatest hurdle race specialist jockeys of all time. Harry Sprague was second, beaten a length on Flight, and Johnny Gilbert was third on Patrocle.
Conal had three more rides on Parting Shot, being placed twice, before the more experienced Dick Curran took over in the saddle.
Conal had three more rides on Parting Shot, being placed twice, before the more experienced Dick Curran took over in the saddle.
Parting Shot was an appropriately-named winner as far as Conal O’Neill was concerned, for despite winning a race on one of National Hunt racing’s biggest stages and beating two of the best hurdle jockeys in the process, he failed to ride another winner. He had a couple of unplaced rides at Doncaster in February 1953 and did not renew his licence at the end of that season. Those five winners in eight months during 1952 was as good as it got.
Parting Shot was an appropriately-named winner as far as Conal O’Neill was concerned, for despite winning a race on one of National Hunt racing’s biggest stages and beating two of the best hurdle jockeys in the process, he failed to ride another winner. He had a couple of unplaced rides at Doncaster in February 1953 and did not renew his licence at the end of that season. Those five winners in eight months during 1952 was as good as it got.
He did make a brief return several years later, taking out a licence for the 1959/60 season and having his first ride back on Chamonix at Cheltenham on October 15, 1959, trailing in last of eight finishers in the Rodborough Three-Year-Old Hurdle. It was only a brief comeback and he had relinquished his licence before the season ended. A tell-tale sign was that he had to put up 3lb overweight to ride Chamonix at 10st 6lb, indicating that weight problems may have been the reason for him failing to make the grade after a promising start.
He did make a brief return several years later, taking out a licence for the 1959/60 season and having his first ride back on Chamonix at Cheltenham on October 15, 1959, trailing in last of eight finishers in the Rodborough Three-Year-Old Hurdle. It was only a brief comeback and he had relinquished his licence before the season ended. A tell-tale sign was that he had to put up 3lb overweight to ride Chamonix at 10st 6lb, indicating that weight problems may have been the reason for him failing to make the grade after a promising start.
Conal O’Neill’s winners were, in chronological order:
Conal O’Neill’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Heavenly Blue, Southwell, March 3, 1952
1. Heavenly Blue, Southwell, March 3, 1952
2. Occaney, Wetherby, April 14, 1952
2. Occaney, Wetherby, April 14, 1952
3. Calshot, Market Rasen, May 10, 1952
3. Calshot, Market Rasen, May 10, 1952
4. Calshot, Southwell, September 6, 1952
4. Calshot, Southwell, September 6, 1952
5. Parting Shot, Liverpool, November 6, 1952
5. Parting Shot, Liverpool, November 6, 1952
Conal O'Neill's final winner, Liverpool 1952