Cork Racecourse Mallow and Bar One Racing have announced that Lombardstown jockey Michael O’Sullivan will be honoured at the Easter Festival, with the three-mile chase on Easter Sunday being run in his memory. The race is the feature event on the middle day of the three-day Festival and will be run as the Michael O’Sullivan Chase on Sunday week, April 20th.
As a jockey, Michael rode his first winner under rules at Cork Racecourse Mallow at the 2018 Easter Festival on ‘Wilcosdiana’, trained by his uncle Eugene. Michael again made the headlines when he rode a treble at the Mallow racecourse on Easter Sunday 2023, winning on both ‘Mister Policeman’ and ‘Aione’ for Willie Mullins, and on ‘L’yser’ for Barry Connell. Eoghan O’Grady, General Manager of Cork Racecourse Mallow, said: “Michael was greatly admired by the local community, and it is only fitting that we continue to remember him at his local racecourse. We are delighted to host the Michael O’Sullivan Chase on one of our biggest racing days, and we look forward to welcoming Michael’s family and friends on the day. It will also be a special day for Michael’s weigh-room colleagues.”