Cross-country star Easysland to be trained by Jonjo O'Neill

Easysland, the dominant winner of the 2020 Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, has switched yards and is now being trained by Jonjo O'Neill with a third crack at the festival in March the aim.

The eight-year-old had previously been trained by David Cottin in France for leading owner JP McManus, who purchased the gelding from Chris Edwards two years ago in the build-up to his emphatic 17-length victory over Tiger Roll at the festival.

That marked a seventh straight victory for Easysland, but he has failed to recapture that form in two subsequent starts over course and distance.

A fourth-placed finish behind Kingswell Theatre when an odds-on shot in November 2020 did little to dampen expectations ahead of his return to the festival four months later, where he was sent off an even-money favourite to defend his crown only to be beaten 18 lengths by a resurgent Tiger Roll.

Easysland has not raced since, and McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said: "Easysland has gone to Jonjo's. There's no real reason, but he's had a few issues for a long time and hasn't been straightforward. Hopefully Jonjo will get a run into him before the Cross Country Chase.

"The wheels have to stay on, but if he stays sound and Jonjo can get a run into him before Cheltenham then great, if not he may struggle."

News of Easysland's switch comes a day after it was revealed McManus had purchased Prengarde, another prolific French cross-country performer, who has gone into training with Enda Bolger and immediately shot past Tiger Roll and Easysland at the head of this year’s Cross Country Chase market.

Easysland career details

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Paddy Power: 5 Prengarde, 6 Tiger Roll, 7 Easysland, 9 Shady Operator, 10 Ajas, 12 Farclas, 14 bar

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday