'Hard-luck stories go with the Grand National but you can't help loving it'

There hasn’t been much to smile about at Jackdaws Castle lately. The horses have been under par since the turn of the year and a stable that usually makes an impact at the Cheltenham Festival had a week to forget.

“Nothing went our way,” reflects Jonjo O’Neill on events at Prestbury Park. “We fancied two runners, but Knight Destroyer fell at the third in the Fred Winter and Forza Milan unfortunately fractured a bone in his back in the Pertemps Final.”

You’d imagine a cloud of despondency might have settled over O’Neill, yet the trademark smile never leaves his face. And the twinkle soon returns to his eye when he considers Minella Rocco’s prospects in the Randox Health Grand National next Saturday.