Danny O'Sullivan
Danny O’Sullivan
Danny O’Sullivan
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Daniel Joseph O’Sullivan rode the first of his four winners over jumps when the eight-year-old Fidus Achates, the 11-10 on favourite, came with a strong ruin from the last flight to overhaul, Romilly and Neil Kernick to take the Haygrass Hurdle (Division 2) at Taunton on April 4, 1963.
Daniel Joseph O’Sullivan rode the first of his four winners over jumps when the eight-year-old Fidus Achates, the 11-10 on favourite, came with a strong ruin from the last flight to overhaul, Romilly and Neil Kernick to take the Haygrass Hurdle (Division 2) at Taunton on April 4, 1963.
The winner was usually ridden by trainer Bob Bassett’s son David, his most recent start having been when finishing an honourable seventh in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting.
The winner was usually ridden by trainer Bob Bassett’s son David, his most recent start having been when finishing an honourable seventh in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting.
Danny only rode Fidus Achates that one time as the horse never ran again, and it was not until Easter Monday 1964 that he next reached the winner’s enclosure, when Savilla landed the Axbridge Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton by a length. Trained by the redoubtable Captain Tim Forster, the six-year-old was winning her first race.
Danny only rode Fidus Achates that one time as the horse never ran again, and it was not until Easter Monday 1964 that he next reached the winner’s enclosure, when Savilla landed the Axbridge Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton by a length. Trained by the redoubtable Captain Tim Forster, the six-year-old was winning her first race.
The gap between his second and third wins was even longer. At Cheltenham on January 6, 1966 he brought Chantime home an easy winner of the Malvern Novices Hurdle (Division 2) for Baydon trainer Eric Foster. He was on board the four-year-old for the first time, who had been runner-up in his three most recent starts when ridden by Peter Pickford. Danny finished second on Chantime at Doncaster next time out and only rode him once more before Pickford reclaimed the ride.
The gap between his second and third wins was even longer. At Cheltenham on January 6, 1966 he brought Chantime home an easy winner of the Malvern Novices Hurdle (Division 2) for Baydon trainer Eric Foster. He was on board the four-year-old for the first time, who had been runner-up in his three most recent starts when ridden by Peter Pickford. Danny finished second on Chantime at Doncaster next time out and only rode him once more before Pickford reclaimed the ride.
Four years almost to the day since his first win at Taunton, Danny had his last at the same course when 100-6 chance Anaphora got up near the line to beat Mr Tickle, the mount of Henry Kavanagh, by a length and half in the Pickeridge Selling Handicap Hurdle (Division 1). Owned and trained by Tim Finch near Norwich, the eight-year-old had already won a race that season when partnered by Jeremy Speid-Soote. Danny managed one second place from two further attempts on Anaphora before Speid-Soote and Bill Shoemark took over in the saddle.
Four years almost to the day since his first win at Taunton, Danny had his last at the same course when 100-6 chance Anaphora got up near the line to beat Mr Tickle, the mount of Henry Kavanagh, by a length and half in the Pickeridge Selling Handicap Hurdle (Division 1). Owned and trained by Tim Finch near Norwich, the eight-year-old had already won a race that season when partnered by Jeremy Speid-Soote. Danny managed one second place from two further attempts on Anaphora before Speid-Soote and Bill Shoemark took over in the saddle.
Danny O’Sullivan’s winners were, in chronological order:
Danny O’Sullivan’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Fidus Achates, Taunton, April 4, 1963
1. Fidus Achates, Taunton, April 4, 1963
2. Savilla, Wincanton, March 30, 1964
2. Savilla, Wincanton, March 30, 1964
3. Chantime, Cheltenham, January 6, 1966
3. Chantime, Cheltenham, January 6, 1966
4. Anaphora, Taunton, April 6, 1967
4. Anaphora, Taunton, April 6, 1967
Danny's first win: Fidus Achates
Savilla, his second win
Danny's third win, Chantime
Danny's final win, Anaphora
Danny's final win, Anaphora