O'Neill worries for Cowboy

Jonjo O’Neill remains concerned over the well-being of some of his horses including his exciting prospect Rhinestone Cowboy.

Speaking at Cheltenham the Jackdaws Castle trainer said: “There is something going around the yard which is getting into their systems and knocks them back for about three weeks to a month.

“We are doing our best to identify the ones that have it but some are getting through running badly.

“Rhinestone Cowboy has it at the moment. He’s quiet. There’s not much life in him at present.”

Two of O’Neill’s horses who have performed with credit recently are Intersky Falcon and Mini Sensation, winners respectively of the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle and Coral Welsh National.

And the trainer is considering possible options for the pair.

He said: “I’ve put Intersky Falcon in in Ireland for the AIG (at Leopardstown on January 26) but he wouldn’t want heavy ground. If he didn’t go there it would be Wincanton (Axminster Kingwell Hurdle on February 15) and then the Champion or just straight to the Champion.

“He doesn’t need to have another run – he’s good that way.

“Mini Sensation, if he’s OK, he’ll go for the big race at Warwick this month (Tote Scoop6 Warwickshire Gold Cup on Saturday week) but the ways things are you couldn’t be sure how he will be.”