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Michael O’Sullivan
Michael O’Sullivan
In the early hours of Sunday 16 February 2025, Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Michael O’Sullivan died as a result of the head injuries he sustained in a fall at Thurles ten days earlier. His death came just five days before his 25th birthday.
In the early hours of Sunday 16 February 2025, Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Michael O’Sullivan died as a result of the head injuries he sustained in a fall at Thurles ten days earlier. His death came just five days before his 25th birthday.
He had been in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital, having been airlifted after a last-fence fall from Wee Charlie in a two-mile handicap chase at Thurles. He never regained consciousness and died surrounded by his family.
He had been in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital, having been airlifted after a last-fence fall from Wee Charlie in a two-mile handicap chase at Thurles. He never regained consciousness and died surrounded by his family.
Born in Lombardstown, near Mallow in north County Cork, he had attained an Agricultural Science degree at University College Dublin before devoting himself to riding in races.
Born in Lombardstown, near Mallow in north County Cork, he had attained an Agricultural Science degree at University College Dublin before devoting himself to riding in races.
He hailed from a family immersed in racing. His father William was an accomplished amateur rider who rode Lovely Citizen to a Cheltenham Festival success in the 1991 Foxhunters’ Chase. Lovely Citizen was trained by William’s brother Eugene O’Sullivan, who also trained It Came To Pass to win the same race under his daughter Maxine in 2020.
He hailed from a family immersed in racing. His father William was an accomplished amateur rider who rode Lovely Citizen to a Cheltenham Festival success in the 1991 Foxhunters’ Chase. Lovely Citizen was trained by William’s brother Eugene O’Sullivan, who also trained It Came To Pass to win the same race under his daughter Maxine in 2020.
Michael had started out in point-to-points, riding his first winner on A Decent Excuse for his uncle Eugene at Castletown-Geoghegan in 2017. He rode his first winner under rules on Wilcosdiana in the Jack Tyner Memorial Hunters’ Chase at Cork on 2 April 2018. He was champion novice point-to-point rider in 2019.
Michael had started out in point-to-points, riding his first winner on A Decent Excuse for his uncle Eugene at Castletown-Geoghegan in 2017. He rode his first winner under rules on Wilcosdiana in the Jack Tyner Memorial Hunters’ Chase at Cork on 2 April 2018. He was champion novice point-to-point rider in 2019.
Having ridden Marine Nationale to a pair of bumper wins for owner-trainer Barry Connell, he turned professional in the autumn of 2022 and achieved a career highlight when guiding Marine Nationale to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. That same afternoon he rode the Gordon Elliott-trained Jazzy Matty to win the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, the second leg of a memorable opening day Festival double.
Having ridden Marine Nationale to a pair of bumper wins for owner-trainer Barry Connell, he turned professional in the autumn of 2022 and achieved a career highlight when guiding Marine Nationale to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. That same afternoon he rode the Gordon Elliott-trained Jazzy Matty to win the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, the second leg of a memorable opening day Festival double.
Michael was crowned Ireland’s 2023 champion conditional jockeys’ title at the end of his first season as a professional. He continued to enjoy a number of memorable days with Barry Connell before they went their separate ways in November 2024. He then plied his trade as a freelance, including being on Willie Mullins’ extended jockey roster.
Michael was crowned Ireland’s 2023 champion conditional jockeys’ title at the end of his first season as a professional. He continued to enjoy a number of memorable days with Barry Connell before they went their separate ways in November 2024. He then plied his trade as a freelance, including being on Willie Mullins’ extended jockey roster.
In all, Michael O’Sullivan rode 95 winners in Britain and Ireland, plus a handful in France as a result of his association with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm.
In all, Michael O’Sullivan rode 95 winners in Britain and Ireland, plus a handful in France as a result of his association with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm.
He was remembered at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival with the opening race of the meeting being renamed the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. There was added poignancy the following day with the victories of the two horses he had ridden to success there two years earlier. Marine Nationale won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and, 40 minutes later, Jazzy Matty landed the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, ridden by Sean Flanagan and Danny Gilligan respectively.
He was remembered at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival with the opening race of the meeting being renamed the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. There was added poignancy the following day with the victories of the two horses he had ridden to success there two years earlier. Marine Nationale won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and, 40 minutes later, Jazzy Matty landed the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, ridden by Sean Flanagan and Danny Gilligan respectively.
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