Top jockey on Megan’s Boy

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 23

Top jockey on Megan’s Boy

NZPA London A New Zealand-bred steeplechase Megan’s Boy, will have the benefit of the leading jumps jockey, Jonjo O’Neill in the Grand National at Aintree on April 3. Ted Carter, the trainer of Megan's Boy, said yesterday that O’Neill who returned to the saddle in January after a bad injury, would also ride the former Great Northern winner in the Greenall Whitley Breweries chase at Haydock Park next Saturday as a lead-up to Aintree. At Haydock Park, Megan’s Boy will clash with last year's Grand National winner, Aldaniti, and Carter said he may also start at

Cheltenham on March 20 depending on how he ran on in the Greenall Chase. “We haven’t decided but at the moment he's in fine form and there are no problems.” he said. O’Neill was offered the ride several weeks ago on the New Zealand nine-year-old which is being quoted at 25-to-l for the Grand National by bookmakers. He had also been approached to ride Ireland’s Deep Gale and Silent Valley and made his decision yesterday after a memorable ride in the Pennine Chase at Doncaster on Night Nurse in which he clipped more than three seconds off the three mile 122 yards course record.