The emotion in Mikey O'Sullivan's voice was clear after riding his first ever Cheltenham winner on Tuesday. O'Sullivan, a 23-year-old from Cork, rode Marine Nationale to victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle for owner and trainer Barry Connell.
"Unbelievable. A massive relief," O'Sullivan, who hails from Dromahane just outside Mallow, told ITV.
Marine Nationale beat Facile Vega down the home straight after the Willie Mullins trained favourite made a mistake at the last.
14 March 2023; Winning owner Barry O'Connell celebrates as Marine Nationale wins the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle during day one of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
"I'm just so, so lucky to get on this horse," continued O'Sullivan, who had ridden the winner in a point to point race four years ago.
"For Barry Connell to put faith in me, and all his team at home - they work so hard, and have really welcomed me in there. We're having an amazing season, I don't think it can be topped.
"The horse is just incredible. I turned in there, and I wasn't sure what I was holding onto, but, by God, he won easy.
"Days like this are what I was dreaming of since I was riding ponies when I was three or four-years-of-age. My father, grandmother, and mother, all family, they've been so supportive of me. To get a day like this, I could retire in the morning."
"It's unbelievable. The horse is just incredible. By god, he won easy.
"Days like this are what I've dreamt of since I was riding ponies at three and four years of age."
🗨️ An emotional winning jockey @Michael_OSull speaks! #CheltenhamFestival | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/Uj2p00kqRA— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2023
Connell said that O'Sullivan contacted him about riding Marine Nationale last year.
"He found me," Dublin native Connell told Racing TV.
"He rang me for the ride on this horse in the bumper in May. He'd ridden for me once before in point to point.
"When he won on him in Punchestown, I was blown away by the performance of horse and rider. He's so cool.
"He has his university degree. He was champion point to point rider at 19, took a couple of years out. He's way ahead of his age in terms of his maturity. I could see him being a trainer down the line, he has that type of mentality.
"We put our faith in him. I didn't care whether he was a five-point claim or a three-point claim - he doesn't need it. I think he's a future star, and we wouldn't swap him for any jockey in the weigh room."
14 March 2023; Marine Nationale, with Michael O'Sullivan up, jumps the last on their way to winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle during day one of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Connell was supremely confident about Marine Nationale's chances in the race.
"We have small little stable," said Connell.
"We only have the licence two-and-a-half years. 25 horses riding out, and I've told the whole of Ireland for the last six months that this is the best horse I've ever had, the quickest horse I've ever had.
"I've had grade one winners before, bu they were stayers. This horse could win a grand one race on the flat at some stage. He'll be back here for the Arkle next year, and we're coming back for a double with Good Land tomorrow.
"I told the whole of Ireland to back these two horses. If I was going home on the boat and got beat, I'd have to wear a disguise. I genuinely thought I had the best horse in both of the races - why not say it?"
IRISH DOMINATION! 🇮🇪 🇮🇪@AP_McCoy's fancied tip Marine Nationale beats Facile Vega to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle!
The first EIGHT finishers were Irish! 🤯#CheltenhamFestival | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/0MV6d9Cqxo— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 14, 2023
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