February Jockey Of The Month

1st January 2020

Jockeys’ Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Gavin Sheehan and Harry Cobden have all been nominated for February’s Jockey of the Month following their standout performances during the business end of the season, with only one week until the prestigious Cheltenham Festival.

Final Results

Harry Cobden – 436 Votes (34%)

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr – 363 Votes (28%)

Gavin Sheehan – 477 Votes (38%)

Votes are closed

Jonjo O’Neill Jr

O’Neill Jr enjoyed a tremendous February, claiming his first ever Graded victory before going on to win another two during the month.

The son of former Champion Jockey and now successful trainer, Jonjo O’Neill Sr, won the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase with Native River at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 8th February. The following week, O’Neill Jr added another to his collection with Copperhead in the Grade 2 Sodexo Renoyldstown Chase at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 15th February.

The 22-year-old then completed the hat-trick of Graded wins with the Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse, storming to victory with Mister Malarky on Saturday 22nd February.

Gavin Sheehan

Gavin Sheehan began the month in style securing Grade 1 success with Itchy Feet in the Betway Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday 1st February. He followed that victory with a win aboard Stick With Bill on the same day resulting in a double to open his account for February.

The 27-year-old claimed nine wins in total in February, with other victories including with Rogue Vif in the Agetur UK Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick Racecourse on Saturday 8th February and Emitom in the Unibet Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock Park Racecourse on Saturday 15th February.

His nine wins in February see Sheehan now placed eighth in the 2019/20 Jump Jockeys’ Championship with 67 victories in total this season.

Harry Cobden

21-year-old Cobden enjoyed a total of 19 wins during February taking his tally for the season to 80 and therefore fifth in the 2019/20 Jump Jockeys’ Championship.Amongst the 19 victories, Cobden notched five doubles, at Wincanton, Catterick and Sandown along with two separate doubles at Musselburgh. The double at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday 1st February included a fantastic win with Quel Destin in the Betway Contenders Hurdle.

Cobden’s most notable victory in the month was with Pic D’Orhy in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 8th February, and the Somerset-based jockey completed the month with a win aboard Cill Anna at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 29th February.