O’Neill confirms Christmas closedown

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.

He is likely to have just one runner over the busy three-day Christmas racing period, when 13 meetings are scheduled to take place.

Though Quazar is engaged in the Stan James Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, O’Neill has no other runners and does not plan to have any until the 100-plus box yard is free from the bug.