SPECULATION as to the future of top National Hunt trainer Jonjo O’Neill mounted yesterday when J P McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry, refused to quash rumours that O’Neill is soon to be replaced at Jackdaws Castle.

JACKDAWS CASTLE is closed for business. That’s the message from Jonjo O’Neill, who is shutting up shop for the foreseeable future, as a bug has laid low some of his top jumping stars.