Phil McEntee calls time on career of 'true legend' Jonnie Skull

After 205 runs and 21 wins Jonnie Skull is finally off for a rest after trainer Phil McEntee decided to retire his stable stalwart.

The 11-year-old, who is so popular he even has his own Twitter account, (@jonnie_skull) is shortly off to join the ranks of the Retraining Of Racehorses (ROR) organisation at Palace House in Newmarket.

After joining McEntee from David Elsworth, Jonnie Skull ran 27 times in 2009. But the son of Pyrus was even more active in 2011 when he had 29 outings.

His most productive Flat venue was Yarmouth where he won seven times and posted a career-high mark of 77 after winning a handicap there in 2013. He was versatile, too, registering ten victories on the all-weather, being particularly effective at Southwell, and two over hurdles.

A mile handicap at Yarmouth in June turned out to be his last outing. McEntee said: “We’ve finally decided to retire Jonnie Skull and the plan is for him to join the ROR at Palace House before he heads to Guernsey, where his owner Kwan Queripel lives.

“He’s the most honest horse I’ve ever had anything to do with and he’s given lots of apprentices and young jockeys many opportunities over the years and doesn’t owe us anything.

“It’s great he’s been offered a place at Palace House and we’ll be sad to see him go as he’s been a true legend.”

Jonnie Skull prepares for landmark start