Paul Webber leads tributes to 'great hunting man' John O'Neill

John O'Neill, a "great hunting man" who enjoyed success over jumps for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 75.

After a career in the City, he bought a farm at Stratton Audley in Oxfordshire and trained a handful of horses under permit while also having others based elsewhere.

Paul Webber, who trains just 20 miles away and whose gallops O'Neill sometimes used, said: "He was a great man and a great influence. I followed him out hunting as a kid and then rode winners for him on horses like Charbonnier, that Peter Bailey trained, and Boreen Daw with Gay Kindersley. My brother was second on Boreen Daw in the Arkle.

"He also had horses in a partnership with my father and with me, including Boughtbeforelunch, who is still running now. He was a tremendous man for the Bicester Hunt and was chairman for 20-odd years."

O'Neill was originally from County Tipperary in Ireland, and multiple Cheltenham Festival winner Edward O'Grady is among his oldest friends.

"His death was a frightful shock," the trainer said. "We were in the pony club together and we were very close. He was a great hunting man and I had a lot of fun days hunting with him.

"A number of years ago when I had quite a big string of horses, I said to him: 'The Horses In Training book is out and it's going to hell, they're letting you into it!' He had two horses. But he turned round and said: 'My strike-rate is better than yours!' He was a very dear friend."

O'Neill is survived by his partner Dillie Keane, an Olivier Award-nominated actress, singer and comedian who is best known as part of the cabaret trio Fascinating Aida.

The funeral is at noon on Thursday, September 1 at The Immaculate Conception Church in Bicester. No flowers, but donations to the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Irish Youth Foundation c/o DL Hancock Funeral Services.

Read this next:

The 80-year-old jockey aiming to become oldest winner of historic Newmarket race

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.