Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan airlifted to hospital after fall at Thurles

Irish jump jockey Michael O’Sullivan was airlifted to hospital after a heavy fall at Thurles that resulted in racing being abandoned on Thursday.

O’Sullivan, who burst onto the scene when he won two races at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, was riding the favourite Wee Charlie, one of five horses to either fall or unseat at the last fence in the two-mile chase. A large number of the 13 runners had still been in contention at the time and Wee Charlie had been challenging for the lead.

He received immediate attention after the serious fall and medical staff at the course stabilised him until an air ambulance arrived to take him to Cork University Hospital.

The five remaining races on the card were abandoned.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board said in a statement: “Michael was treated by the medical team on the track prior to the air ambulance arriving. Due to the ongoing medical situation at the time, the race-day stewards made the decision to abandon the remainder of the card. Michael was stabilised prior to being transferred to Cork University Hospital.”

O’Sullivan, from a renowned Cork point-to-point family, was the leading under-21 rider between the flags in 2021 at the same time as gaining an honours degree from University College Dublin. He turned professional the following year when he was champion conditional jockey.

He hit the headlines when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Marine Nationale for Barry Connell in 2023 and followed up when Jazzy Matty won the Fred Winter. His three Grade One winners were all for Connell but the duo parted ways in November.

He had ridden 14 winners this season and two in Britain. He had also caught the eye of Louisa Carberry in France, riding for her at Auteuil in the autumn.

There was no further update on his condition on Thursday night.