'A natural' - Jane Mangan tribute to Michael O'Sullivan

Michael O'Sullivan had "so many credentials racked up for a guy who was so young", says Jane Mangan as she paid tribute to the jockey who died at the weekend following a fall at a race in Thurles last week.

Tributes have been pouring in for the 24-year-old from across the racing community and far beyond since news of his passing was announced.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, broadcaster and former jockey Jane Mangan highlighted O'Sullivan's many achievements and how the Co Cork native had grown up in a family steeped in racing heritage.

"They would have grown up on a dairy farm, always had horses, always watching racing and I don't think anything was ever else on Michael's agenda," she said.

"I know he got a UCD degree, I know he was keen to learn the language of French because he wanted not just to confine himself to riding races in Britain and Ireland but he also wanted to ride in France, which he was doing.

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"So he might have only been 24 - and I think his birthday is this Friday, he would have been 25 - (but) he managed to become Champion Novice rider in the point-to-point circuit in 2019.

"He turned professional and in his first season as a professional he was crowned Champion Conditional in 2023.

"He had Grade One successes on Marine Nationale and Good Land and he won the Fred Winter (Hurdle) on Jazzy Matty.

"On that day he rode a double at the Cheltenham Festival at such a young age, and even as recently as New Year's Day at Tramore, he won on the Willie