Lombardstown jockey Alan O'Sullivan wins prestigious ride of the year award

Lombardstown amateur Jockey Alan O'Sullivan was a significant winner at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards for 2025 in Dublin.

On a particularly poignant night for the family, Alan's late brother Michael was also honoured. 

Alan picked up the prestigious Ride of the Year Award for the manner in which he steered Filey Bay to a memorable victory in the featured Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders Handicap, on the opening night of the Galway festival. 

A public vote determined the award. 

The poignant post race scenes in the winners enclosure illuminated the opening night of this year's Galway festival. 

Alan's victory left an indelible mark on this iconic race and on those of us fortunate to witness that extra special night in Ballybrit.

The 2025 Galway Festival provided Alan O'Sullivan with the biggest victory of his career on the biggest stage of the summer festival circuit. 

I've witnessed lots of memorable moments on Irish Racecourses in 2025, but that particular night was tinged with unbridled joy and sheer raw emotion. 

Alan partnered Filey Bay to a never to be forgotten victory in the iconic €100,000 Connacht Hotel Qualified Rider's Handicap.

It's been a challenging year for Alan who lost his brother Michael following a horrific fall at Thurles in February. 

The burgeoning Lombardstown amateur sported the iconic silks of JP McManus on the Emmet Mullins-trained winner. 

Alan carried an additional burden of expectation, adding to the pressure cooker environment in the cauldron that is the opening night of the Galway festival. 

His mount had been heavily backed through the morning from 20/1 into 7/1.

Alan showed remarkable composure and was the very essence of patience personified. 

He sat out the back early on and had some traffic problems as he was momentarily trapped on the inside rail. 

His patience was rewarded as the gaps appeared and he gradually crept into contention. 

He shot to the front at the furlong marker and quickly asserted stretching four lengths clear. 

The performance was all the more impressive given he missed the break. 

The winner had been quite keen in the past but settled admirably in the hands of O'Sullivan that night.

Alan looked to the sky as he crossed the line that night in Galway. 

He clearly believes in fate and acknowledged this afterwards in the parade ring. 

"Michael has been looking down on me since the day he left us. It feels wrong to say it but I just have so much confidence now knowing that he is looking down on me and to do this for him, I think he'd be proud." 

Emmet Mullins, who trained the winner is normally quite reserved said this afterwards.

"I'm a bit lost for words. It's just magic." 

In another twist of fate on that remarkable evening Alan used Michael's saddle.

I vividly recall an upbeat and overjoyed Alan O'Sullivan describing it as an "unbelievable win."

Earlier that day the death had been announced of the renowned Irish NH trainer Edward O'Grady. 

A measure of Alan O'Sullivan's class, was the fact his foremost thoughts after such a momentous victory, was to pass on his condolences to the O'Grady family.

Alan also extended his gratitude to the winning owner JP McManus and trainer Emmet Mullins.

"I'm incredibly grateful to Mr McManus and to Mr Berry, but especially to Emmet. 

"He put his neck on the line to have me on this horse. 

"I'm not one of Mr McManus's riders and it's my first time riding in these colours."

In the build up to Galway Alan spent a month riding out at Emmet's. 

He'd ridden Filey Bay in work at the yard and he’d gelled with the horse instantaneously.