Punters enjoyed a perfect start to the 2025 Cheltenham Racing Festival on Tuesday, courtesy of the win by strong favourite Kopek Des Bordes – owned by Fermoy’s Charlie McCarthy and his four sons CJ, David, Andrew and James – in the opening Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Charlie is Chairman of the McCarthy Insurance Group (established in 1952), which operates 16 offices, including one in Charleville, and has a staff count of over 200.
The race was renamed in memory of Michael O’Sullivan, the young jockey from Lombardstown who died recently following injuries sustained in a fall, and who won the race a couple of years ago. The winner was trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend of Lisgoold, who immediately afterwards pointed to the Cork crest on an armband he wore in memory of Michael.
Charlie dedicated the victory to Michael O’Sullivan. “It’s unreal. It’s a wonderful day for me because the race is named after Michael, he lived about 20 kilometres from me and I’ll donate this to the O’Sullivan family, because he was a wonderful jockey.”
Michael’s brother Alan and uncle Eugene O’Sullivan were on hand to make the presentation, while other family members watched on, along with Michael’s girlfriend Charlotte Giles. A welcome home party is planned for Fermoy in the coming days.