Jonjo and AJ O’Neill will learn exactly where they stand with Champion Hurdle hopeful Wilful this Saturday, when the progressive hurdler steps into Grade 2 company for the BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
The six-year-old has been a model of consistency this season, reaching the frame in all four starts and climbing from a handicap mark of 121 to his current rating of 142. That Windsor second last month — carrying top weight in a competitive Class 2 handicap — convinced connections the gelding had earned his shot at better company.
“It was a really strong effort off top weight at Windsor,” said AJ O’Neill. “Hopefully he can continue going in the right direction and cope with a race like this as it will be a different test to the handicaps he has competed in so far.”
The Numbers Behind the Hype
Wilful’s rise through the ranks has been sharp. Since April last year, he’s progressed from winning a Class 3 handicap at Ayr off 121 to finishing second in a Class 2 at Windsor off 142 — an improvement of 21lb in less than ten months.
His Ascot victory in December deserves particular attention. That was a Class 1 Premier Handicap, and Wilful prevailed at 8.5/1 despite racing from 6lb out of the handicap. Horses capable of winning competitive Class 1 handicaps off marks in the mid-130s rarely find the leap to Grade 2 company beyond them.
Currently rated 142, Wilful sits just two pounds below last year’s Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace, who arrived at Cheltenham off a mark of 144 after winning this same Kingwell Hurdle. The comparison is striking: both horses took the Kingwell route as their final prep, both had proven themselves in top-level handicaps, and both were trained by handlers with solid Festival records.
The Kingwell Trial: Mixed Blessings
History offers a cautionary tale, however. While Golden Ace parlayed his 2025 Kingwell victory into Champion Hurdle glory at 26/1, the 2024 winner Nemean Lion flopped at Cheltenham, finishing sixth at 13/1 despite being sent off favourite for the Kingwell.
The Kingwell Hurdle has produced only sporadic Champion Hurdle winners in recent years. Before Golden Ace’s surprise triumph, you’d have to go back to 2011 with Hurricane Fly to find a horse who won both races in the same season. It’s a prep race that identifies contenders rather than anoints champions.
Looking at recent Champion Hurdle winners, the rating bar has typically been high. State Man (2024) was rated 169. Constitution Hill (2023) sat at 173. Even the seemingly modest Golden Ace had been campaigned at the highest level before his surprise Ascot win. Wilful’s 142 looks light by comparison, though Golden Ace proved that a horse peaking at the right time can overcome the numbers.
The O’Neill Factor
The Jonjo O’Neill yard has enjoyed a solid campaign, saddling 49 winners from 612 runners (8% strike rate) in the last twelve months. That consistency matters when assessing whether Wilful can make the jump from handicaps to graded company.
The father-and-son team have also entered Highlands Legacy for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, suggesting they’re building a proper Festival team rather than making up the numbers. Wilful’s regular rider Jonjo O’Neill Jr. knows the horse intimately, having partnered him in all but one of his starts.
The Verdict
Saturday’s Kingwell will answer the critical question: is Wilful a genuine Champion Hurdle contender or merely a very good handicapper? The step up to Grade 2 company against horses who have been competing at this level all season is significant. His rating of 142 puts him in the conversation, but he’d likely need to find another stone to match the very best two-milers.
What’s undeniable is the trajectory. Horses who can carry top weight to placed efforts in competitive Class 2 handicaps, then win Class 1 events off the same mark, are rare animals. Whether that progression continues into the elite bracket will be determined at Wincanton on Saturday — and potentially confirmed four weeks later on the sport’s biggest stage.
Kingwell Hurdle entries include: Wilful, plus a field expected to feature established graded performers. The race runs Saturday, February 14th at Wincanton (2:25pm).