Willie Mullins leads tributes to Michael O’Sullivan

Willie Mullins has paid tribute to “natural rider” Michael O’Sullivan following the jockey’s death at the age of 24 on Sunday morning.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider shot to prominence in 2023 and had since been regularly called up by Mullins to partner some of his superstars, with the duo enjoying big-race success with Embassy Gardens at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

O’Sullivan was airlifted to hospital following a fall at Thurles on February 6 and had been in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital since.

He finished second on his final ride for Mullins at Thurles that afternoon and the Closutton handler remembered a “very modest, friendly and understated” man.

Mullins told the PA news agency: “It’s dreadful news which puts all our problems into context. He will be much missed here and there is a real sadness over the whole of Closutton today.

“He was here two mornings a week and was very much a part of the team at Closutton and his part here was only going to get bigger. He was such a natural rider who was very modest, friendly and understated.

“He had a great understanding of horses and racing and given the horse, he was the man.

“I think Closutton will be a much poorer place without him and we, as a family, will miss him. He will be much missed in the yard and we have his family in our thoughts and our prayers are for them now.”

Fellow trainer Gordon Elliott also enjoyed success with O’Sullivan, most notably when teaming up with Jazzy Matty for victory in the 2023 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott said: “It’s a terrible tragedy for racing and today is about remembering Michael. We had some great moments on track together, including when winning at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023. We send our deepest condolences to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues.”

The Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale propelled O’Sullivan into the spotlight with his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle win two years ago and the jockey subsequently expanded his contacts to ride for many other handlers.

He had forged a recent association with the French-based team of Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, winning the Prix de Chantilly aboard Gurzuf in June 2024, while also tasting success together at Hereford and Bangor earlier this season.

George said: “He was going to be a future star who has been taken from us far too early, but most importantly he was a great person and great person to be around and just an all-round good guy.

“On behalf of all the French racing community, we would like to send our sympathies and condolences to all his friends and family. We are all thinking of them and they are the people who made Michael into the great person he was and our thoughts are with them.”

Andrew Coonan, secretary of the Irish Jockeys Association, hailed O’Sullivan’s talent in the saddle and underlined the inherent risk of race-racing.

He said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague, Michael. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his father, William, his mother, Bernadette, his brother, Alan and girlfriend, Charlotte.

“Jockeys face the risks of race-riding every day, but it is only when a tragedy like this befalls us that those full risks are truly realised.

“Michael was not only a highly talented rider but also a great friend and colleague to many in the weighroom. We are all the richer for having known him, even though his time with us was far too short.”

A statement from the Professional Jockeys Association in Britain read: “The PJA and its members are heartbroken to hear that jockey Michael O’Sullivan has died following injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles.

“Michael was a very talented, popular rider and, with the weighing room being such a close-knit community, his passing will leave a profound sense of loss in Britain as well as Ireland.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael’s family and friends, his weighing-room colleagues and the Irish racing community.”

Horse Racing Ireland’s CEO Suzanne Eade added the authority’s voice to a wave of tributes for the rider.

She said: “My HRI colleagues and I share in the sadness of everyone at this morning’s news of the passing of Michael O’Sullivan.

“Everyone’s thoughts are with Michael’s parents William and Bernadette, his brother Alan, his wider family and with his many friends and colleagues. To them all, we offer our sincerest condolences.

“Coming from a background steeped in racing, Michael made his start in the point-to-point field while a secondary school student and he made his name on the racecourse with a university degree under his belt.

“A champion under-21 point-to-point rider, Michael began the 2022/2023 season as a 7lb claiming amateur and ended the term as our champion conditional jockey with three Grade One winners to his name.

“Michael’s talent shone through for big-race success on National Hunt racing’s greatest stages. Michael was a gentleman. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and everyone can be proud of his many achievements, both on and off the racecourse.

“Michael will be much missed and he will be widely mourned. May he rest in peace.”

Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, also offered his condolences to O’Sullivan’s friends and family.

He said: “I was devastated to learn of the death of Michael O’Sullivan earlier today and speak for all involved in British racing when I say that our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this awful time.

“The bonds between the British and Irish racing communities are deep and this unspeakable tragedy will doubtless have a profound impact on many people on both sides of the Irish Sea.

“This has been an extremely difficult week for many in the racing family; support is available and I would urge anybody who feels they need this to reach out to their employer or representative body.”