Big-race Glory for newly turned professional

Michael O'Sullivan continued a family tradition in riding a notable winner for trainer Terence O'Brien today, bagging a first feature race success in Listowel's €100,000 Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle on Magnor Glory (16/1).

O'Sullivan, 22 and son of Cheltenham festival winning jockey William O'Sullivan, turned professional three weeks ago and today produced Magnor Glory with a patient ride from mid-field, to lead at the last and beat Fils D'Oudairies by three lengths.

Carrigtwohill based trainer O'Brien reported “I legged up Michael's dad Willie O'Sullivan for my first winner in a point-to-point in Dungarvan in the early 1990s and it has been a full turn of the wheel.

“He is a fantastic lad and to be honest I haven't been watching him that much, but have been hearing about him. I knew was cool, that's what I wanted and he gave the horse a fantastic ride.

“I told him not to go wide and if you have to sit, sit. He said he could have gone wide but he sat. He is unbelievable value for his 7lb claim.”

He added “the horse works on his own because he is very hard on himself so I didn't have a clue what way he was going to run. After his Galway run we were disappointed but Donal MacAuley, who rides him out and does all the work with him, was happy and said he was in good form.

“He was eating and everything was ok and while we always felt there was a big handicap in him, I thought we were 10 or 12 pounds too high. Today was the big target but Sandy (Shaw, handicapper) will have a say now. He could jump a fence but could stay over hurdles for a while.

“The lads at home have done a great job and Michael Brown, my head lad, has been fantastic - this is a great boost.”