Latest news with #MichaelO'SullivanSupremeNovices'Hurdle
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Queen Camilla attends Cheltenham Festival, comforts girlfriend of jockey who died after recent fall
CHELTENHAM, England (AP) — Queen Camilla comforted the girlfriend of a jockey who recently died following a fall as the horse forever linked to his career won at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday. Camilla kissed and put a reassuring arm on Charlotte Giles, who had joined trainer Barry Connell on the winning podium after his horse, Marine Nationale, won the feature race of the day — the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Marine Nationale was ridden to victory in 2023 in another big Cheltenham race, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, by Michael O'Sullivan, who died last month from his injuries following a fall at Thurles Racecourse in his native Ireland. O'Sullivan, who was aged 24, was honored on Tuesday — the first day of the festival — when the announcer ushered in the start of the race renamed the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Giles was part of the pre-race preparations for Marine Nationale and the post-race celebrations, too. Minutes later, Jazzy Matty — another winner under O'Sullivan at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival — further honored his memory with a poignant success in the Grand Annual Chase. Jazzy Matty's jockey, Danny Gilligan, said: 'I think we all know there is someone very special looking down on us today. That is for Michael.' Camilla regularly attends major racing meets such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival and is associated with a number of equine charities including The British Equestrian Federation. She was recently announced as the royal patron of the British Racing School, which trains the next generation in the horse racing industry. ___ AP sports: The Associated Press
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Queen Camilla attends Cheltenham Festival, comforts girlfriend of jockey who died after recent fall
CHELTENHAM, England (AP) — Queen Camilla comforted the girlfriend of a jockey who recently died following a fall as the horse forever linked to his career won at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday. Camilla kissed and put a reassuring arm on Charlotte Giles, who had joined trainer Barry Connell on the winning podium after his horse, Marine Nationale, won the feature race of the day — the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Marine Nationale was ridden to victory in 2023 in another big Cheltenham race, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, by Michael O'Sullivan, who died last month from his injuries following a fall at Thurles Racecourse in his native Ireland. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. O'Sullivan, who was aged 24, was honored on Tuesday — the first day of the festival — when the announcer ushered in the start of the race renamed the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Giles was part of the pre-race preparations for Marine Nationale and the post-race celebrations, too. Minutes later, Jazzy Matty — another winner under O'Sullivan at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival — further honored his memory with a poignant success in the Grand Annual Chase. Jazzy Matty's jockey, Danny Gilligan, said: 'I think we all know there is someone very special looking down on us today. That is for Michael.' Camilla regularly attends major racing meets such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival and is associated with a number of equine charities including The British Equestrian Federation. She was recently announced as the royal patron of the British Racing School, which trains the next generation in the horse racing industry. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Queen Camilla attends Cheltenham Festival, comforts girlfriend of jockey who died after recent fall
CHELTENHAM, England (AP) — Queen Camilla comforted the girlfriend of a jockey who recently died following a fall as the horse forever linked to his career won at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday. Camilla kissed and put a reassuring arm on Charlotte Giles, who had joined trainer Barry Connell on the winning podium after his horse, Marine Nationale, won the feature race of the day — the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Marine Nationale was ridden to victory in 2023 in another big Cheltenham race, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, by Michael O'Sullivan, who died last month from his injuries following a fall at Thurles Racecourse in his native Ireland. O'Sullivan, who was aged 24, was honored on Tuesday — the first day of the festival — when the announcer ushered in the start of the race renamed the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Giles was part of the pre-race preparations for Marine Nationale and the post-race celebrations, too. Minutes later, Jazzy Matty — another winner under O'Sullivan at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival — further honored his memory with a poignant success in the Grand Annual Chase. Jazzy Matty's jockey, Danny Gilligan, said: 'I think we all know there is someone very special looking down on us today. That is for Michael.' Camilla regularly attends major racing meets such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival and is associated with a number of equine charities including The British Equestrian Federation. She was recently announced as the royal patron of the British Racing School, which trains the next generation in the horse racing industry.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Queen comforts girlfriend of late jockey at Cheltenham Festival
The Queen comforted the girlfriend of jockey Michael O' Sullivan who died following a racing fall as the horse forever linked to his career won at the Cheltenham Festival. Camilla kissed and put a reassuring arm on Charlotte Giles when she joined trainer Barry Connell on the winning podium after his horse, Marine Nationale, won the feature race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The thoroughbred was ridden to victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2023 by O'Sullivan who died last month from his injuries following a fall at Thurles Racecourse, Co Tipperary, in his native Ireland. He was honoured on the first day of the festival on Tuesday when the announcer ushered in the start of the race renamed the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Connell was keen to dedicate the success on Wednesday to O'Sullivan, with his former retained rider's girlfriend part of the pre-race preparations for Marine Nationale and the post-race celebrations. He said: 'Charlotte was helping to tack him up and we got her in the photograph. I've spent a good bit of time with her in the last couple of weeks, and the family as well, and any little thing we can do to help everybody involved we will do. 'It's been a heart-wrenching time for everybody. I'm sure he would be proud.' The Queen ended her day at the premier meet for jump jockeys by presenting the Queen Mother Champion Chase trophies to Connell and jockey Sean Flanagan, after spending time in the royal box with her family and other royals. She was joined by festival stalwarts Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank and her children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, with their father and her former husband Andrew Parker Bowles also part of the group. Snow had greeted early risers at the famous racecourse but Camilla arrived in sunshine as punters poured through the gates ahead of the first race. The festival is a huge event in the area with bars, hotels and pubs filled in nearby Cheltenham and, alongside a normal trolley service, one train, from Paddington, to the town's main station, had another trolley selling just cans of beer. Camilla has a keen interest in the equestrian world, regularly attending major racing meets such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival and is associated with a number of equine charities including The British Equestrian Federation and the Ebony Horse Club. She was recently announced as the royal patron of the British Racing School which trains the next generation in the horse racing industry.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Touching reason why Cheltenham Festival's opening race has been renamed after jockey's shock death
The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival has been renamed in memory of Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan who passed away in February due to injuries caused by a fall. The 24-year-old O'Sullivan died on February 16, after coming off his horse, Wee Charlie, at Thurles racecourse when he was one of three fallers at the final fence of a two-mile handicap chase. He was taken to hospital via air ambulance and spent 10-days in an intensive care unit but did not recover from his injuries. The first race of the festival is usually the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle but has now been named the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle as a tribute to the jockey. O'Sullivan won this race aboard Marine Nationale two years ago and he was leading jockey on the opening day at Cheltenham in 2023 after a second victory atop Jazzy Matty. Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender said: "When you read the heartfelt tributes paid to him, you can see how highly regarded he was in the racing community on both sides of the Irish Sea and beyond. "Given that it was at Cheltenham that Michael enjoyed his biggest success as a rider back on that magical Tuesday afternoon in 2023, we felt it was only right to pay tribute to Michael in this way." O'Sullivan's family added: "We are deeply proud of Michael's incredible talent and the legacy he left in the world of racing. "Renaming the race that marked the pinnacle of his career is a fitting tribute to his skill, dedication, and passion for the sport. "As a family, we have always admired Michael's achievements both on and off the track, and it means so much to us to see his talent recognised in this way. The outpouring of tributes over the past week has been a testament to the impact he had on so many lives. "We would like to sincerely thank The Jockey Club and Sky Bet for giving us this opportunity to honour Michael's memory and celebrate his remarkable career."
