Cork jockey Michael O'Sullivan causes huge shock in Galway
Jabbar and Michael O'Sullivan win the Tote Always SP Or Better At Galway Maiden Hurdle. Picture: Healy Racing
Talented Lombardstown jockey Michael O'Sullivan is enjoying a fruitful period.
On Tuesday at Galway, he registered his third success in maiden hurdles since Friday. In the process, he caused one of the biggest shocks in National Hunt Racing in recent years.
His mount Jabbar floored the 1/9 favourite The Enabler in the Tote Always SP Or Better At Galway Maiden Hurdle. The Enabler who was 4/11 this morning was backed in the lead-up to the race as if defeat was out of the question. His returned SP 1/9 is one of the shortest in recent years.
Gordon Elliott's dual bumper winner The Enabler was expected to land the opener with the minimum of fuss for owners Gigginstown House Stud. The one concern for short-priced punters was the good ground factor - both of The Enabler's victories had come with heavy or soft in the going description.
His only rival in the market was the 80-rated flat horse Jabbar 4/1 on his hurdling debut. He'd won five times on the flat including a victory in Newcastle when trained by Andrew Balding.
The race developed into the anticipated match from the third last. Michael O'Sullivan was always travelling ominously well on Gerard O'Leary's five-year-old in the slip-stream of the short-priced jolly. The Enabler was looking slightly laboured two out.
He then jumped out to his left at the final flight allowing O'Sullivan to scrape paint with the perfect passage on the rail. Jabbar as you'd expect from a horse with five victories on the flat duly had too many gears for the dual bumper winner on the run in edging two lengths clear at the line.
There was a whopping 39 lengths back to the third.
O'Sullivan said: "He quickened away to the line and wasn't stopping. The only hurdle I missed was the second last, coming here he'd schooled well."
Both trained by Barry O'Connell who gave O'Sullivan his biggest career victory - on Marine Nationale in the 2023 Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.
O'Sullivan is looking forward to Marine Nationale who made an impressive chasing debut at Leopardstown last December. However he flopped when 4/7 favourite for the Irish Arkle at the DRF. He's set to return in either the Poplar Square Chase in Naas, or the Fortria Chase at Navan a week later.
Michael comes from a strong racing background his father William won the 1991 Foxhunters at Cheltenham on Lovely Citizen trained by his uncle Eugene, also based in Lombardstown. Eugene won the Foxhunters for a second time with It Came To Pass 66/1 ridden by Michael's cousin Maxine won by 10 lengths continuing a proud family legacy at Cheltenham.
Michael was champion novice point to point rider in 2019. His first winner as a professional was Dangan Des Champs for Robert and Mary Tyner at Sligo two years ago. Michael has a strong relationship with Barry Connell's yard in Nurney Co.Kildare. Barry has been very supportive to him providing him with Grade One success on Good Land and Marine Nationale.
Good Land is set to return after a tendon injury kept him sidelined. Michael O'Sullivan also struck Cheltenham glory on Jazzy Matty in the 2023 Boodles on a never to be forgotten day, earlier taking the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Marine Nationale.
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