Tears 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] https://twitter.com/itvracing/status/1899856201103417727

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 promising jockey who was just coming to the peak of his powers.

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 crashed out.

Barry Connell, who trains Marine Nationale, choked up as he spoke of what the win meant to him.

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

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

And Paul Townend paid tribute to him as well when he won the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Kopek Des Bordes.

More to follow.

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