Racing world mourns 'bright, rising star' Michael O'Sullivan

Barry Connell described Michael O'Sullivan as a "bright, rising star" who leaves a lasting legacy following news of his death on Sunday at the age of 24.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider was airlifted to hospital following a fall at Thurles on 6 February and had remained in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital since.

O’Sullivan hit the big time when partnering the O’Connell-trained and owned Marine Nationale to win the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, with the pair striking up a partnership when the rider was still a claiming amateur.

Connell said: "He was a bright, rising star as a jockey and we were lucky to have had a very close association with him.

"Everybody in the yard is devastated. He was such a lovely personality to have around the place, he fitted in really well. He was widely liked by his colleagues and everyone who met him.

"He didn’t work full time for us, he came in three days a week and he had other connections he rode for after he turned professional, but he was a pleasure to have around the place and everyone got on really well with him.

"I think everyone in racing is stunned today and all we can do is express our sympathy to his parents, William and Bernadette, and his brother, Alan. He will be sadly missed."

Connell recalled how O’Sullivan had contacted him to ride future star Marine Nationale on his bumper debut in May 2022, with the then 7lb claimer steering him to a clear-cut victory and impressing the trainer in the process.

Marine Nationale won another bumper for the pair before embarking on a dream novice hurdling season that encompassed two Grade One victories.

Connell said: "I think in early 2022 he’d ridden one point-to-point winner for me before and we had Marine