Cork Racecourse Mallow and Bar One Racing have announced that the late Michael O’Sullivan will be honoured at the Cork Easter Festival with the three-mile chase on Easter Sunday run in his memory.
The race is the feature event on day two of the three-day Festival and will be run as the Michael O’Sullivan Chase on Sunday, April 20.
The Lombardstown native rode his first winner under rules at Cork Racecourse Mallow at the 2018 Easter Festival on Wilcosdiana, trained by his uncle Eugene. Michael again had his name up in lights when he rode a treble at Cork Racecourse Mallow on Easter Sunday in 2023, winning on both Mister Policeman and Aione for Willie Mullins, and on L’yser for Barry Connell.
O’Sullivan’s stock rose to all new highs in 2023 as he rode a double at the Cheltenham Festival with wins on Marine Nationale in the curtain raising Supreme Novices Hurdle and aboard Jazzy Matty in the Fred Winter.
The former Champion Conditional Jockey in Ireland won the Bar One Racing sponsored Royal Bond with Marine Nationale in 2022 (headline image) and as a mark of respect to the late rider Bar One Racing has in conjunction with Cork Racecourse Mallow worked to rename this years three-mile chase on Easter Sunday in Michael O’Sullivan’s memory.
Eoghan O’Grady, General Manager Cork Racecourse Mallow, said: “Michael was greatly admired by the local community, and it is only fitting that we continue to remember him at his local racecourse. We are delighted to host the Michael O’Sullivan Chase on one of our biggest racing days and we look forward to welcoming Michael’s family and friends on the day. It will also be a special day for Michael’s weigh room colleagues.
“Our sincere thanks go to Barney O’Hare of Bar One Racing for his assistance and for generously allowing us to rename the race in Michael’s honour.”