ONE of the biggest talking points to emerge from last year’s Punchestown Festival was the success of the British-trained contingent, and the training partnership of Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill is out to return with a bang next week when sending a sizeable squad to the meeting.

The O’Neills’ Petit Tonnerre was one of eight visiting winners across the five days in 2025, and the Cotswolds yard has apparently been buoyed by those results.

Their team captain for their latest venture is impressive County Hurdle winner Wilful, who is set to take aim at Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Boodles Champion Hurdle on Friday. Fitri Hay’s seven-year-old has been on a roll this season - now up to a mark of 153 after finishing second in handicap company at this meeting last year off 128. Next week will be his first appearance in open graded company.

“This will obviously be a big step up in grade for Wilful, but he’s in great form,” A.J. O’Neill told The Irish Field.

“He’s won two premier handicaps this season, as well as finishing second in the Sovereign at Windsor in January, so he’s been operating at the top end of the weights in those good races. His win in the County came off 11st 2lb, and he had 12st at Windsor, where the ground was probably softer than he ideally likes.

“To be fair to the horse, he’s earned his chance at stepping up and was great last time in the County. It’s a fantastic place to give it a try. We know it won’t be easy, but we’re very excited to do it.”

O’Neill added of the 12/1 chance: “He’s progressed with every run and is just that type of horse. Even last season, he had a good second at Punchestown, albeit off a lower mark.

“He’s been very well seen by everyone this season and genuinely has kept improving. How much he continues to improve, we don’t know, but hopefully he isn’t done with yet.”

Aintree scorer

The O’Neills are out to continue a fine run of Festival form with their Aintree winner Wellington Arch - also on course to appear at Punchestown. Like Wilful, he was placed at this meeting 12 months ago, when third in the Saturday’s two-and-a-half-mile Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle and has taken his form to new heights this term.

“He did very well to win off 14lb higher at Aintree this year than was the case a year earlier,” said A.J.

“I thought he probably showed a good degree of toughness to get headed in the straight and still get up to win. It was very pleasing to see and he’s in great form.

“He obviously ran in the feature two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle on the Saturday last year, and is in that again. He’s come out of Aintree very well and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the track again.”

Petit Tonnerre is due back for another crack at Punchestown too. J.P. McManus’ winner of the Frontline Security Handicap Chase over two miles last year wasn’t disgraced when beaten 21 lengths in midfield at Aintree, but has largely failed to catch fire this season. On the plus side, he is now back down to an Irish mark of 128, having won off 127 at this meeting last year.

“Everything fell right for him last year,” O’Neill said.

“He’s always had an inconsistent element about him and he’s not a horse who has typically strung good runs together, but he likes a bit of sun on his back so hopefully he’ll give a good account.”

Double figures

On other names to note from the O’Neills’ Punchestown team for 2026, A.J. added: “Pioneer Pete won well in a little maiden hurdle at Wetherby last month and we’re aiming him for the two-mile handicap hurdle [sponsored by FRS Fencing] on Friday. It’s one of the smaller handicaps in terms of ratings and he’s in great shape, so hopefully he can put in a nice performance.

“The plan is for Seaniecon to go for the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle over just shy of three miles on Thursday. He had a crack at a Grade 1 last time [when fifth to Zeus Power at Aintree] and fingers crossed he manages to get in.

“We’ve given We’re Red And Blue an entry for the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles on Tuesday also.

“He finished third in the Imperial Cup two starts ago. We felt he might want better ground than he got that day and were in two minds about running him. He ran very well at Haydock last time when second too.

“We’ll keep an eye on which of our entries are getting in, but we’re all delighted to be a part of the Punchestown Festival. We’re expecting to travel with a squad that will hopefully be into double figures. It’s an unbelievable week with fantastic racing. The atmosphere is awesome. The whole festival will be even better if we can get a winner on the board.”