Tragic news was broken by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Sunday that Michael O’Sullivan died of his injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles on February 8th. He was 24 years old.
O’Sullivan was a burgeoning talent in the weighing room having already achieved some notable successes in the racing world; he was a three-time Grade 1 winner, but perhaps most notably was the man who pulled off a superb waiting ride to guide Marine Nationale to victory in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at that year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Having been the number one rider for Barry Connell, O’Sullivan split from that yard and went freelance this season, securing a significant victory for trainer Willie Mullins when winning at Tramore on New Year’s Day aboard Embassy Gardens.
After his fall on February 8th, he had been situated in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital under an induced coma. Despite battling for more than a week, O’Sullivan never regained consciousness from his injuries and passed away with his family present in the early hours of Sunday morning. He will be a much-missed presence at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival in four weeks’ time.
All our sincere, heartfelt condolences go out to Michael’s family on a desperately sad day for racing.