Tears flow at Cheltenham as late jockey Michael O’Sullivan’s beloved horse wins Champion Chase after TWO rivals fall

TEARS flowed at Cheltenham as tragic late jockey Michael O’Sullivan’s beloved horse won the big race on day two – a month after the hugely popular rider died.

O’Sullivan’s biggest win came on Marine Nationale in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

ReutersMichael O’Sullivan, the jockey who died aged 24 last month, had his biggest win on Marine Nationale at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival[/caption]

ReutersWinning jockey Sean Flanagan looks to the skies after winning the Champion Chase in honour of O’Sullivan[/caption]

ReutersThere was huge drama in the race as Quilixios fell at the last when in with a huge chance[/caption]

"Michael. This is for you"

Sean Flanagan pays his respects to Michael O'Sullivan, who won this race on Marine Nationale two years ago #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @swflanagan7 | @AlicePlunkett pic.twitter.com/JeXNZbEF4L
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025

The tragic Irish rider passed away last month aged 24 after injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles.

Racing is still coming to terms with the loss of a hugely popular jockey who was just coming to the peak of his powers.

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But there was a sense of ‘it was meant to be’ at the home of jumps on Wednesday when Marine Nationale powered home to win the Champion Chase.

However, that was only after odds-on fav Jonbon failed to fire and TWO other rivals – Quilixios and Libberty Hunter – crashed out.

Barry Connell, who trains Marine Nationale and gave O’Sullivan his big break before a messy split, choked up as he spoke of what the win meant to him.

While winning rider Sean Flanagan said: “Michael, this is for you.

“It’s hugely emotional for a lot of reasons.

“All the jockeys in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks.

“I’m only the man that steered him around, Michael’s the man who made him what he is and he’ll never be forgotten.”

O’Sullivan’s girlfriend was in tears at the track on Tuesday as everyone there paid tribute to the late rider.

And Paul Townend wiped away tears as he gave a special nod to his late pal when he won the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Kopek Des Bordes.

Punters watching at home were moved just as much, with one saying: “I’m not crying, you are. Written in the stars. Marine Nationale.”

And another commented: “In tears here. Delighted for Barry Connell. Horse of a lifetime in Marine Nationale.

“If there is a heaven, Mikey will be looking down with pride. That was for him.”

Incredibly, Jazzy Matty, the other horse O’Sullivan rode on a day one double two years ago won the very next race.