Ten quickfire questions: jockey Jonjo O'Neill jnr reflects on his season

Give your season a mark out of ten
A strong eight as I had a few ups and downs. I missed most of the summer with an injury and then half of October and November owing to a longish ban. Overall though, I was pleased by the way things went as my career hopefully took a step forward.

What gave you most satisfaction?
My winning ride on Mister Malarky in the Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton, as on another day I'm not sure he would have won. For the first part of the race I wasn't that happy as things were just not clicking for him. But he got into a rhythm over the last mile and a half or so and was brave when I popped the question.

Mister Malarky: won the Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton in FebruaryCredit: Edward Whitaker

What could you have done better?
Quite simply I shouldn't have had so many suspensions for the whip. However, we all learn from our mistakes and I've definitely learned from mine.

If you could ride one horse you currently don’t, who would it be?
It would have to be Envoi Allen as he looks the real deal. I watched a recording of his win in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and I could hardly believe how he devours the ground at full stretch. Whether he stays over hurdles or goes chasing, he’s going to be very hard to beat.

What was your race of the season?
It has to be the Gold Cup, in which I rode Elegant Escape. It’s always a special race and in many ways the highlight of the season. It was won by a very good horse in Al Boum Photo. To win one Gold Cup is hard enough, but to win two on the bounce is something else.

Give us a horse you ride to follow next season
Soaring Glory. He won two of his three bumpers and we're hopeful he could be very good when sent novice hurdling next season. He definitely has the scope to do well in that sphere.

And one you don’t ride
I don’t think The Big Breakaway showed his best form at Cheltenham and I'm positive he'll leave that running behind him next season. He looks the ideal type to go novice chasing and he could be special.

The Big Breakaway on his way to a seven-length win at Newbury in DecemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Who is the best young rider, apart from you?
It has to be Jack Tudor. People sometimes forget how young he actually is. He looked very good when winning the Welsh Grand National on Potters Corner and I'll be surprised if he's not vying to be champion conditional next season with the likes of Connor Brace and Ben Jones.

Which Cheltenham Festival race needs to be sacrificed for the new mares’ chase?
I don’t really want to see any of them go but if my hand was forced it would have to be the Fred Winter as it has diluted the Triumph Hurdle over recent years.

What are you going to be doing more of during the lockdown?
Read more books for starters and maybe start a new hobby like cycling. I dabbled with it last summer but injuries got in the way and it would definitely help with my fitness when things did finally resume.

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