Michael O'Sullivan's brother pays emotional tribute to tragic jockey after big win
The brother of Michael O'Sullivan paid an emotional tribute to the tragic jockey after riding a big winner at the famous Galway Festival. Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Michael died in February aged 24 from injuries sustained in a five horse pile-up at the final fence of a chase at Thurles in February.
He was the subject of numerous tributes at the Cheltenham Festival where his loved ones, including amateur rider brother Alan, were present to see the jockey's first Festival winner Marine Nationale win the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March, then by an uncanny coincidence Jazzy Matty, O'Sullivan's other Cheltenham Festival winner, scored later on the same day.
On Thursday Alan was riding the JP McManus-owned Filey Bay, trained by Emmet Mullins, in the Connact Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap.
He had to weave a path to get a run on the 7-1 chance and when he did he fairly shot clear, with the winning jockey looking to the skies as he passed the line four and three-quarter lengths ahead of Mon Coeur.
'It's unbelievable, my goal at the start of the year was to be good enough that someone might want me for this. He was looking down on me, I think,' said O'Sullivan.
'When I wanted the gaps, they came for me, I got a dream run. I probably went the brave man's route, but I thought it's what Mikey would have done. I had loads of horse, if I got any gap at all I had the horse to take it.'
Winning trainer Mullins said: 'It was meant to be and I'm a bit lost for words. It's just magic. It was Michael's saddle that Alan was using today. Michael rode a few times for me here and I think we hit the crossbar twice, so Alan steadied the ship.
'It's been a long enough road with the horse. We had him last season and I sent him home twice as I just wasn't happy. Thankfully with JP the patience has paid off.
'Alan was keen to ride him, and I was keen to claim off him as well. For 7lb claimers you don't need to look any further than Alan.'
Don't miss a FREE £2 William Hill shop bet inside your Mirror every day of Glorious Goodwood Festival
Pick up your Mirror every day of the Goodwood festival to get your hands on 12 page pullouts packed with insight from the punters you trust, plus FREE William Hill shop bets every day of the festival from Tuesday July 29 until Saturday August 2, 2025. Find out more here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Rossa Ryan's 'big sorry' after favourite ruled out when kicked at start by rival
Kinross was bidding for his third victory in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood but could not take part after being caught by Audience Kinross's attempt to land an extraordinary third victory in the Lennox Stakes was over before it started at Goodwood on Tuesday. The eight-year-old stalwart of the Ralph Beckett stable has amassed nearly £2 million in earnings, winning 11 of his 35 races. He had won the Lennox Stakes twice, in 2021 and 2023, and finished third 12 months ago when the race was won by Audience. Kinross was 3-1 favourite to reclaim his title in a field which also contained the John & Thady Gosden-trained. But Audience couldn't wait for the pair to clash in the race. He took Kinross out before it even started. The field was milling around behind the stalls, waiting to be loaded, when Audience made a beeline for Kinross and kicked out. His jockey Rossa Ryan dismounted and, after being examined by vets, he was declared a non-runner and was brought back in an ambulance. An eventful race went to 25-1 chance, the Hollie Doyle-ridden Witness Stand, a first Group winner on the Flat for Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. Noble Champion was pulled up during the race after appearing to go wrong. He was found to be lame. A gutted Ryan said: 'I was nowhere near Audience and it just kept backing up and it backed up and just let fly at me. 'I want to say a big sorry to everyone involved. It was a bit of a freak thing. He seems fine but it's just a pity. It happened that fast, it took me by surprise. It's one of those things I'm afraid.' Winning jockey Doyle said: 'A great training performance by Jamie Insole and Dr Richard Newland, plus everyone back at home, to get this horse back on track, not winning in handicap company but in Group company. 'He has some really good form, is a Listed winner and, on ratings, he wasn't far behind Audience. He had quite a lot to prove but he stood up. It is a bit of a shock to the system but Jamie wasn't shocked.'
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Williamson century drives Middlesex at Cheltenham
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, College Ground, Cheltenham (day one)Middlesex 232-3: Williamson 104*; M Taylor 2-47Gloucestershire: Yet to batGloucestershire 1 pt, Middlesex 0 ptsMatch scorecard Kane Williamson bit the hand that once fed him with an unbeaten century for Middlesex on a curtailed opening day of the County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at a life on 29, the prolific New Zealander hit 104 not out, off just 112 balls, against his former county as the visitors ran up 232-3 after winning the toss. Josh De Caires contributed 58 and Leus du Plooy 42 not out, before bad light and drizzle ended play at 16:50 seamer Matt Taylor was the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers with 2-47 from 12 overs, but it was a largely disappointing day for the hosts in front of a sparse Festival crowd, no doubt resulting from the unsettled start was delayed until 12:15 by rain and when the covers were removed a two-tone pitch was revealed, green for the most part, but shaved at both ends. In deciding to bat first, Middlesex presumably anticipated it would turn as the match heavily overcast skies, Gloucestershire made a breakthrough with the second ball of the third over with the total on 10. Taylor found the edge of Sam Robson's bat and, although Cameron Bancroft could only parry the ball at first slip, Ollie Price was alert to pouch the Murphy was introduced into the attack from the College Lawn End for the ninth over, but the Australia Test off-spinner could make no impact during the shortened pre-lunch session, which ended with Middlesex Holden helped De Caires take the score to 54 in the 15th over before pushing forward to a ball from Taylor that he could have left and edging through to wicketkeeper James Bracey. Murphy switched to the Chapel End to little effect as De Caires moved to an authoritative half-century off 81 deliveries, with 10 fours.A big moment came with the score on 115-2 as Williamson edged Murphy to slip where Miles Hammond spilled a routine waist-high chance. It was all the good fortune the Kiwi master-bladesman needed to capitalise fully on the short boundaries at the College Caires was visibly frustrated to depart two runs later, lbw playing across a full delivery from Ben Charlesworth. That was as good as it got for Gloucestershire, du Plooy helping Williamson add 87 without alarm before the tea reached a 68-ball half-century, with 7 fours, Williamson took 20 off an over from Graeme van Buuren, twice smacking the left-arm spinner back over his head for sixes. Du Plooy looked equally untroubled and was unbeaten on 28 at tea, with his partner 10 away from a final session saw Williamson bring up the century partnership off just 95 balls before moving to his own hundred with a single to square leg off Murphy. He had faced only 104 deliveries and hit 12 fours and two the skies closing in, umpires Neil Pratt and Sue Redfern decided the light was unfit with a further 32 overs still possible in the day. Soon the rain was falling heavily again and play was abandoned at just after 17: Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Today's Horse Racing Results
Racing fans need access to fast horse racing results and The Independent is providing the latest results from around the racing world with our live fast results tool. The tool below displays the latest result from UK and Irish races from today and yesterday, as well as information on any upcoming races that are yet to be run today: The live tool updates automatically, meaning users can rely on it for fast horse racing results that are always accurate and up-to-date. US horse racing results The following table will display US racing results, with up-to-date facts and information on races from today and yesterday: How to use our live racing results tool The live results tool updates with fast horse racing results in real time according to the latest outcomes on the day. There is no refresh required, as the tool will automatically update. Results are shown race by race, with additional details and information on races that are yet to be run on that day too (if there are any remaining). The widget can be used to assess tips and runners in the ante-post betting, helping users to make informed bets and compare runners ahead of time. In addition, after races it can be used to check results quickly and to compare different runners, racers and even jockey performances when used during specific festivals and races. Which races are covered? All of the main types of race are covered in our tool from UK National Hunt races (also known as jump racing) to Flat races and all-weather events. Of course, big race days will be included too, from Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot to the Grand National, and summer events such as the Epsom Derby and Glorious Goodwood. Today's horse racing results are available every day, while you can also check the results of yesterday's races from around the UK, US and Ireland. Why use our horse racing results page? Our horse racing results tool provides rapid, accurate updates on the latest races, with a clean user-friendly interface and an absence of adverts that contributes to a great overall user experience. The tool is good for tracking ante-post odds and runners as well as any tips, while it can also be used after races for post-race analysis and checking betting outcomes. We've also produced several other guides to aid users' overall racing betting experience, including reviews of the best horse racing betting sites and an exploration of the best horse racing free bets and betting offers. Bettors should always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using betting sites, slot sites, , casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable racing punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses.
