Ireland’s champion claiming professional jump jockey will be awarded the newly named Michael O’Sullivan Trophy starting this season, permanently honoring the rider who died in February 2025 following a fall at Thurles.
Michael O'Sullivan Trophy Elevates Professional Title Prestige
- Championship Market: The newly minted Michael O’Sullivan Trophy directly elevates the prestige of the claiming professional title, honoring the memory of the rider across the National Hunt season.
- Future Futures: Early-season conditional leaderboards will track toward the May 1, 2027 presentation at Punchestown, marking the conclusion of the 2026/2027 National Hunt season.
Remembering a Breakthrough National Hunt Star
The championship has been permanently renamed to commemorate Michael O’Sullivan, who tragically passed away at the age of 24 on February 16, 2025, after suffering a fall on the track ten days earlier, racingtv.com reported. The widely admired Lombardstown rider captured the 2022/2023 Irish National Hunt Champion Claiming Professional crown after steering home 32 winners during a remarkable breakthrough season.
O’Sullivan’s rapid ascent through the point-to-point ranks saw him secure the Champion Under 21 Point-to-Point Rider crown in 2019 while studying agricultural science at University College Dublin, according to racingtv.com reporting. He turned professional in September 2022 and landed his first winner just two weeks later on his 14th ride aboard the Robert Tyner-trained Dangan Des Champs at Sligo.
By December 2022, his claim had dropped to 5lb when he partnered with Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale to win the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse, before following up with another Grade 1 success at the Dublin Racing Festival in February 2023 aboard Good Land.
The Cheltenham Festival Highlights
O’Sullivan delivered a spectacular opening-day double at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. He guided Marine Nationale to an unforgettable victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, later adding the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Jazzy Matty for Gordon Elliott.
"We miss him so much. We're so proud and he'll always be with us." News today that the Champion Claiming Professional Jockey trophy will be renamed in honour of Michael O’Sullivan. Thank you to the O'Sullivan family for speaking to us at @Fairyhouse @HRIRacing pic.twitter.com/Kv14sXu98N
Horse Racing Ireland confirmed that the prestigious trophy will be presented for the first time on Saturday, May 1, 2027, marking the thrilling conclusion of the 2026/2027 National Hunt season on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.
| Milestone / Event | Date / Season | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Point-to-Point Crown | 2019 | Won Champion Under 21 Point-to-Point Rider title |
| Professional Debut Win | September 2022 | Scored on 14th ride aboard Dangan Des Champs at Sligo |
| Claiming Championship | 2022/2023 | Rode 32 winners to secure the claiming professional crown |
| Cheltenham Festival Double | March 2023 | Won Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Fred Winter on day one |
| Trophy Inauguration | May 1, 2027 | First presentation of the Michael O’Sullivan Trophy at Punchestown |
Horse Racing Ireland Expresses Gratitude to the O'Sullivan Family
Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, expressed deep gratitude to the O’Sullivan family for blessing the renaming of the trophy. She emphasized the exceptional attributes the young rider brought to the sport.
“We are immensely grateful and deeply honoured to have the blessing of Bernie, William, Alan, and the entire O’Sullivan family to rename the Irish National Hunt Champion Claiming Professional Trophy in Michael’s memory. It will be a fitting reminder to every future champion claiming professional jockey of the immense talent, dedication and humility that Michael brought to our sport,” Suzanne Eade stated, as reported by racingtv.com.
The O’Sullivan family also shared their reflections on the permanent tribute. They stated that Michael poured his heart into his riding and deeply loved the racing community.
“We are deeply touched that Michael’s memory will be carried forward through the presentation of the Michael O’Sullivan Trophy to the champion claiming professional at the culmination of each jump season. To have his name permanently attached to the title he was so proud to win is a beautiful and fitting tribute to his legacy,” the O’Sullivan family expressed in a shared statement detailed by rte.ie.
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