Gelding came fourth in big race after we wished him well at horse spa dubbed ‘Champ-neighs’
Johnnywho ran an ‘absolute cracker’ in the Grand National after the Daily Star wished him ‘good luck’ when we visited him at a racehorse spa dubbed ‘Champ-neighs’.
The nine-year-old gelding finished fourth in Saturday’s £1m steeple chase at Aintree. Trainer AJ O’Neill said: “He ran an absolute cracker. We are absolutely delighted. He jumped away well all the way and enjoyed himself.”
AJ’s ex-jockey dad Jonjo Snr said: “I’m thrilled to bits with him. He’ll hopefully come back next year. You need a lot of things to go right but he enjoyed himself.”
Jockey Richie McLernon added: “I couldn’t have asked for much more from him. He jumped and he travelled and he’s run a cracker.”
We told how Johnnywho prepped for the big race at Jackdaws Castle – a 500-acre spa for horses featuring a swimming pool, solarium, horsey running machine, gallops and helipad so owners can fly in to check on their steeds.
The celebrity-style pampering was no special treat for him – he gets it every day along with his 115 thoroughbred stablemates. And it is certainly proving a winner for those lucky enough to live at the O’Neills’ racing HQ in. the Cotswolds.
Their stables have produced 1,700 winners including 31 in top grade races, 27 at Cheltenham and the 2010 Grand National with Don’t Push It.
Johnnywho went into the National in fine form, after winning the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase at last month’s Cheltenham festival.
His daily preparation for the Aintree classic involved run on gallops designed to replicate every conceivable racecourse condition. Then he had a dip in the 6ft-deep oval swimming pool which allows horses to exercise without straining their limbs. Next he relaxed under the heat lamps in the horse solarium.
After a chinwag with his thoroughbred pals in the paddock he was led back to his stable for a nutritionist-approved nosh – followed by a relaxing kip.
All that was missing was a visit from a nail technician – and a hoof-snipping farrier is on stand-by. We gave Johnnywho a final ‘good luck’ nose-stroke as he chilled out with his friends.
AJ, 26, told the Daily Star: “Our horses are pampered. I can’t deny it. At the end of the day they are elite athletes.
“Everything we do is about helping them achieve peak performance at the right time – just like a human athlete. Each horse has own personality. Some may have a niggle but the swimming pool water takes the pressure off their limbs so they can still exercise.
“They’re still getting that cardio-vascular fitness without the most weight-bearing aspects.”
Next to the pool the O’Neills have built a massive pump room so the water can be constantly filtered.
“You have to keep it very clean because racehorses are very sensitive regarding their respiratory systems,” AJ said. ‘They can pick up little bugs and respiratory infections, like snotty noses and similar issues.
“And, like children in school, once one gets one, they all get it. So you must be very conscious to ensure they are always in the best respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive health.
“It’s not just a case of galloping them and ensuring they are physically fit enough to run three miles and over jumps. For horses that have aches and pains getting under the heat lamps helps the blood flow, helps everything to recover. Recovery is key as it is with human athletes.”
AJ said the range of indoor jump training and outdoor gallops was designed to build horses up to their big race – whether at Aintree or Ayr.
“Like Olympic athletes they can’t sustain race pace, top speed every day,” he said. “It’s about building core deep fitness. Some of our gallops have a deeper surface which makes them use their bodies and builds their muscle without going fast. It’s like running on a beach.
“We aim for them to reach between 22 and 24mph – slower than they would achieve in a race. The real focus is on their welfare and doing what’s right by the horse.
“Everything is gradual. Jumping starts literally with a pole on the ground and slowly builds up in height. Like some kids at school are sporty while others are more academic some horses are naturally better jumpers than others.
“We can help every horse achieve peak performance.. We’re very lucky. We have fantastic facilities which allow us to keep them in tip-top health all year round. Whether it’s the swimming pool or the solariums, our physios, the vets and the farriers that come to make sure they’re always as happy as they can be.”
The horses even get a holiday – from their holiday.
“We collect a lot of data, with heart rate monitors and different sensors, weigh them frequently, take their temperatures, do blood tests, everything. That helps us decide what they need,” he said.
“They get a bit of time out to just reset after the season like human athletes.”