O’Neill following in family tradition
But this afternoon, when the main branch of the day's racing is over and terrestrial TV has moved on, there will still be much to play for for the tight-knit O'Neill clan.
Tom O'Neill jnr, son of the Castletownroche greyhound trainer of the same name and nephew of Jonjo, has been selected to ride in the St Patrick's Derby and will be on board his uncle's Church Field in the charity race, which will be run after the final race on the card.
It's just a few years since O'Neill jnr was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and having gone through a tough time initially, he decided to make some goals for himself.
Following somewhat in the family tradition, he chose to learn to ride horses, and has taken to the task every bit as well as one would expect.
It's all been a bit of a whirlwind for the 26-year-old, who, yesterday, was just coming to the realisation it wouldn’t be long before he would be riding on the same hallowed turf on which his uncle enjoyed so many golden moments.
Speaking from the course yesterday afternoon as the occasion began to sink in, O'Neill said: "There's a fierce crowd here. Really huge. I'm not nervous yet but I suspect I might be in the morning.
"We have to have another medical - we did one in January, and must pass another one now - and then we'll go out and walk the course. There'll be photos to be taken after that, and then we'll be let into the weighroom some time after 4 o'clock. That's when it will all really sink in."
Fellow Corkman Richie McLernon, who is an integral part of the Jackdaws Castle team and who claimed his third Festival success by getting Holywell across the line in the Baylis & Harding Handicap Chase on Tuesday, has become a good friend and mentor to the qualified electrician and electrical engineering student.
O'Neill explained: "I only took up riding in 2010 - I had Crohn's disease and it was a tough time, and so I decided to make some goals for myself.
"Learning to ride was one of those goals but I didn't think I'd ever get an opportunity to ride at Cheltenham. It has all happened so quickly.
"I've been riding out at home and getting over to Jackdaws whenever I could. Richie has been a huge help to me all along, giving me invaluable advice.
"Jonjo and Richie had a winner on Tuesday, so that took the pressure off. I didn't go celebrating because I'm in training," he added.
“All the work is done. It’s about going out there and enjoying it now.
“The weather is very good here, I can wear the dark glasses so people won’t be able to recognise me in case I don’t perform well.”
Being an O’Neill, we know that won’t be an issue.
It may be a cliché, but this race is truly about the taking part, and not about the winning.
The race debuted at the Festival in 2010, with the purpose of raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
The race is in its fifth year and a total sum in excess of £800,000 has been reached. It is hoped the proceeds from today's renewal will bring that tally bursting through the £1m mark.
It has been well documented that Jonjo O'Neill had a battle with cancer in the 1980s and that was a huge factor in his nephew’s motivation to get involved with today's race.
"Two of my uncles had cancer and they helped me when I had Crohn's disease, so I saw this is a great opportunity give something back,” he explained.
O’Neill has already more than doubled the target required to participate and is hopeful further donations will be forthcoming.
Anyone who wishes to donate can do so by visiting justgiving.com/Tom-O-Neill88.
Details are also available through Tom’s Twitter account (@tomoneill88) or by following O'Neill on Facebook.
