“It means so much to us to see his talent recognised in this way”
The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival has been renamed in honour of the late Michael O’Sullivan, and will now be known as the The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The 24-year-old jockey passed away this month from injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles ten days earlier.
His greatest achievement on the saddle was winning the Novices’ Hurdle in 2023 on the Barry Connell trained Marine Nationale. He would also win the Fred Winter on Gordon Elliot’s Jazzy Matty on the same day.
In a statement, his family said: “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.”
CEO of Cheltenham Racecourse, Guy Lavender, said: “Michael was an outstanding jockey and recognised by everyone as a wonderful young man.
“When you read the heartfelt tributes paid to him over these past days, 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.
“Our sincere thanks go to our sponsors of this race, Sky Bet, for making it possible. All our thoughts continue to be with Michael’s family, friends and weighing-room colleagues at this difficult time and for allowing us to pay tribute in this way.”
