Emotional scenes at Cheltenham as stars align to pay tribute to O'Sullivan

It was an emotional and poignant day on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival as fate conspired to pay tribute to jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who sadly died last month after a fall during a race in Thurles.

On the opening day of the 2023 Festival, O’Sullivan enjoyed probably his best day in racing when he won on Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty.

Incredibly, less than a month after his tragic passing, those two horses won back to back races at the Festival.

Marine Nationale was on the horse on which O’Sullivan made his name when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and his win today caused an outpouring of emotion.

Before the race, Nurney trainer Barry Connell asked O’Sullivan’s girlfriend Charlotte to help ready Marine Nationale before today’s Champion Chase and was in the Winner’s Enclosure when the horse returned to a hero’s welcome.

“Michael and I went on a journey with this horse,” said Connell.

“He rode him in all his races in his novice season over hurdles. He started as a 7lb claimer with us and we asked him to turn pro. He ended winning three Grade Ones as a claimer, leading rider on the first day, and then leading conditional. I’ve asked racing historians and I don’t think they can find anyone who did all that. It is a tragedy that he’s left us, but its a record that he can be really proud of. He’s achieved more in a lifetime than a lot of riders who have been riding a lot longer can ever achieve. So I’d like to dedicate this win to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte, who’s here. Our hearts go out to all his friends and family and girlfriend.

“Racing is a great community behind people when things like this happen,” said Connell.

Sean Flanagan was the made in the saddle for today’s win and he praised the role that O’Sullivan had played in helping the horse develop.

“It’s hugely emotional for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, his (Michael O’Sullivan’s) family obviously have to find it very hard. All the jockeys in Ireland, the UK and in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks.

“I’m only the man that steered him round today, Michael is the man who made him what he is. He will never be forgotten for that.” He added: “[As jockeys] its every race, race by race, we ride – made a hash of the last race and I’m just lucky I can get on the likes of this lad and he really comes alive when he comes here. It’s credit to all the people back at Barry’s. I’m only drafted in very late to steer him round, the work is already done.” The rider added: “I suppose there was a certain amount of pressure with him because of everything involved with him.

“I spoke to Michael plenty about him before I started riding him. The horse is what he is today because Michael made him. It is very emotional.

“Charlotte is an inspiration, and she is here today, and she has been so tough and all the family have. He has gone and done it well and he is trying to make him proud.

Incredibly, just 40 minutes later, another horse that meant so much to O’Sullivan Jazzy Matty, won the Grand Annual.

His jockey said Danny Gilligan:

“It went very smooth, never missed a beat the whole way round there. I’m sure everyone knows there’s someone very special looking down on us today. That’s for Michael.” As well as the poignancy of the day, it was a massive win for Connell to see Marine Nationale claim a second Grade 1 win on the biggest stage of all.

“I think the horse hasn’t got his credit since he won the Supreme Novices’, and people forget that he only had two runs last year so he’s effectively a novice this year, and we were having to plan a campaign to gradually get him his experience.

“He started in Naas in a Grade 2, and progressed with two good runs at Leopardstown - he was coming all the time. If you go back and look at his career, three runs - won an ordinary maiden hurdle, then improved a stone to win the Royal Bond, improved another stone to win here. He loves this place and comes alive here. We were very confident coming today but understated, because I was too confident the last day and didn’t want to do that again. He travels, he jumps - he’s everything you want in a Champion Chaser.

“I’ve been coming racing here since the 1980s, since I was a student, and it’s the one race I always wanted to win, because it’s pure, unadulterated, on-the-edge speed; the horses finish quickly, they don’t finish tired like in the Gold Cup. It won’t sink in for a long time.”