Jonjo O'Neill has confirmed that his Jackdaws Castle operation will be closing down for the forseeable future as a bug has laid low some of his stable stars.
The Corkman is likely to have just one runner over the busy three-day Christmas racing period, when 13 meetings are scheduled to take place.
Though Quazar is engaged in the Stan James Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, O'Neill has no other runners and does not plan to have any until the 100-plus box yard is free from the bug.
O'Neill's top three-mile chaser Keen Leader will miss a
clash with three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate at Leopardstown: He confirmed: "He's been below par. A few of them have been, so we decided to wait with him.
The trainer, who made a fast start to the jumps season, has sent out 90 winners from the Temple Guiting yard so far but has had a 14-runner barren spell since Good Judgement and Campaign Trail landed a double at Towcester on December 13.
"It's bitterly frustrating," said O'Neill. "We are going to have a quiet time of it until the sickness clears up."
A massive cleaning operation at Jackdaws Castle has been ongoing over the past two days and it is hoped that the stable, owned by JP McManus, will soon be back on track.
Filed by James McMahon
