Racegoers wept and tears flowed in the winners enclosure at Cheltenham on Wednesday as booth horses ridden to victory by tragic jockey Michael O’Sullivan won again – within 40 minutes. Michael died in February aged 24 after a fall in his native Ireland and on Tuesday the festival honoured him with a minute’s applause.
At the 2023 Cheltenham Festival jockey Michael’s only two winners were Jazzy Matty in the The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race and Marine Nationale in the The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race. But on Wednesday those exact two horses honoured Michael by winning again – Marine Nationale triumphed in the Queen Mother Champion Chase before Jazzy Matty took the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
Marine Nationale trainer jockey Sean Flanagan said: “It’s hugely emotional. 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.”
Former champion jockey-turned TV pundit Sir AP McCoy said: “Thinking of the O’Sullivan family at this time.
“What a horse, what a performance it was. It was very emotional to watch him winning. He definitely got a bit of help from above.”
Charlotte Giles, Micheal’s heartbroken girlfriend, even shared a tender moment with Queen Camilla as she handed Maine Nationale’s winning connections the trophies in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Meanwhile Danny Gilligan, who rode Jazzy Matty to glory 40 minutes later, said: “I think we all know there’s someone very special looking down on us today especially with Marine Nationale winning the last race – and for this lad to go out and do it too. We all know who is looking down on us today.’’
Mervyn Gray of its owners the Top Man Racing syndicate said: “We just can’t believe it. We gave him a great chance at the weights and the race went like a dream, he pinged every fence.
“Somebody is looking over us today and our thoughts and hearts are with Michael.”
On Tuesday favourite-backers were thrilled when the first race of the meeting saw 4-6 hot pick Kopek Des Bordes win The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The race was named in Michael’s honour with Cheltenham also earlier hoisting a minute’s applause in his memory and the jockeys all wearing red and white armbands – the colours of Michael’s home county of Cork.