No weather woes for Jonjo O'Neill as Monbeg Genuis seals treble

Thursday: Newcastle

The cold weather and threat of inspection did not stop the Jonjo O'Neill team from embarking on a near five-hour journey and they were rewarded for their efforts with an impressive treble.

O'Neill sent four runners from his base in Cheltenham before the track passed a 10am inspection and claimed the opening three contests by a combined total of 33 and a half lengths.

"It's fantastic we were still able to race today and even better to have some nice winners," said assistant trainer AJ O'Neill.

"It was a lot easier for us that Warwick was the one that didn't pass the inspection over Newcastle. We can try and change a lot of things in life but the weather is not one of them."

Blue Shark opened the yard's account with back-to-back wins under Jamie Brace before Crebilly stormed to an eyecatching 21-length win on his hurdles debut under Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

The jockey quickly followed up on Monbeg Genuis, who was registering his first chase success. O'Neill's final runner on the card, Impatient, finished second in the bumper.

"It's nice when it works out like that," AJ O'Neill said. "Blue Shark's win was made easier by a lot of non-runners on the day but it was great to get another win.

"Crebilly was very good, we liked him last year and we were hopeful he'd run well today, and it was the same with Monbeg Genius, who appreciated the step up in trip.

"We have runners at Cheltenham tomorrow and there were strong frosts this morning, so fingers crossed we haven't used up all our luck!"

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