Wellington Arch

The highlight of his career so far came at Aintree on 4 April 2025, when he won a top-level race at one of the most famous racecourses in the world. Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr. described a tense finish, convinced they were about to be overtaken before holding on at the line. It was a result that had been planned for weeks, and it came off perfectly. Then, almost a year later, Wellington Arch won again at Uttoxeter — and the word from joint-trainer AJ O'Neill afterwards was that the horse is still getting better. "He seems to be improving a little bit with age," O'Neill said, which is exactly what you want to hear about a seven-year-old who already has a top-level win on his record.

The partnership with Jonjo O'Neill Jr. has been central to everything. Together they have won 5 from 11 races — that is nearly 1 in every 2 times they have lined up together, a remarkable ratio that suggests horse and rider have a genuine understanding. The yard itself, run jointly by Jonjo and AJ O'Neill out of Cheltenham, has sent out 51 winners this season alone, so Wellington Arch is operating in an environment built for success.

His recent form reads 1-2-9-3-1-2 — two wins and three placings in his last six races, with one blip in the middle that looks increasingly like a one-off. The team have long had chasing in mind for him next season, and given how naturally he has jumped so far, that transition could unlock something even better. For now, though, Wellington Arch is a horse in form, improving with age, and trained by one of the busiest yards in the country. Plenty to look forward to.