- More
'I know Michael is definitely looking down on me - I want to do stuff he'd want to see me doing, I want to make him proud'
Deputy Ireland editor David Jennings chats to the amateur rider who tragically lost his brother back in February

After he has painted the most beautiful and authentic picture of his brother during a heartbreaking yet inspiring hour, I wonder why Alan O'Sullivan doesn't appear to be angry with the world.
"What am I supposed to do?" he says. "Lie down and cry about it every day? I'd rather go out there and make Michael proud of me. I want to do stuff that I know he would like to see me doing. I want him to be proud of me. He's looking down on me. I wouldn't be the most religious person in the world, but I know he's definitely looking down on me."
Michael's younger brother has every reason to be raging with the world. Earlier this year he lost his partner in crime, his best mate. The one he kicked a football with out in the back garden; the one he rode races with on the arms of the couch; the one he wrestled with; the one he argued with; the one he hugged; the one he played tricks on his parents with; the one he rang after every race; the one he spoke to every single day without fail; the one he idolised.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inThe Big Read
Last updated
- ‘It’s like a social club’ - meet the punters who fear betting shops could go the way of the local pub
- ‘Sean is relentless and it could be like this for years - but I want to be the one who knocks him off the top’
- 'I know what people said about me - but I didn't care because I wasn't going to jock myself off my own horses'
- 'That restored my street cred a bit - when you've been around a long time it's easy to become no longer relevant'
- 'I think we all dream about winning the Arc - and when you find a filly like her you can certainly hope'
- ‘It’s like a social club’ - meet the punters who fear betting shops could go the way of the local pub
- ‘Sean is relentless and it could be like this for years - but I want to be the one who knocks him off the top’
- 'I know what people said about me - but I didn't care because I wasn't going to jock myself off my own horses'
- 'That restored my street cred a bit - when you've been around a long time it's easy to become no longer relevant'
- 'I think we all dream about winning the Arc - and when you find a filly like her you can certainly hope'
