Cheltenham roar will be tinged with poignancy as Michael O'Sullivan is honoured in festival-opening Supreme

Two years ago, Michael O'Sullivan announced himself on racing's biggest stage by steering Marine Nationale to a decisive victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the traditional roar preceding the festival opener will be imbued with heavy-hearted poignancy as the racing community continues to come to terms with his untimely death.

Since the dreaded news filtered through one month ago that O'Sullivan had tragically died due to head injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles ten days prior, the build up to Cheltenham has felt increasingly trivial, but the renaming of the opener to the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a resplendent touch by sponsors Sky Bet and the Jockey Club as an apposite tribute to a man who burned bright at the festival in 2023 with a fabulous double when still claiming 3lb.

A supremely talented jockey with a marvellously deft pair of hands but, more importantly, a courteous and affable individual who was firmly on his way to being a marvellous ambassador for our sport, O'Sullivan has been the subject of a plethora of moving tributes and his absence will be keenly felt this week around the stage on which he sparkled.

Marine Nationale, the horse which he relished partnering the most, has his date with destiny in Wednesday's Champion Chase and 40 minutes later Jazzy Matty, who O'Sullivan galvanised to a gritty victory in the Boodles to sign off that double, will contest the Grand Annual.

When it was announced last month that the race would be named in his memory, the O'Sullivan family said: "We are deeply proud of Michael's incredible talent and the legacy he left in the world of racing.

Michael O'Sullivan celebrates as Marine Nationale wins the SupremeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Renaming the race that marked the pinnacle of his career is a fitting tribute to his skill, dedication, and passion for the sport. As a family, we have always admired Michael's achievements both on and off the track, and it means so much to us to see his talent recognised in this way.

"We would like to sincerely thank the Jockey Club and Sky Bet for giving us this opportunity to honour Michael's memory and celebrate his remarkable career."

His brother Alan continues to showcase his talents in the saddle, guiding home a treble in point-to-points earlier this month with winners at Kildorrery and Bandon for his uncle Eugene, and he could be in line for a ride in the Kim Muir or Hunters' Chase later in the week.

Whatever unfolds in the skirmishes of today's curtain-raiser, the participants will be propelled from the off by a fervent roar from the depths of the Cotswolds as everyone takes themselves back to 2023, when a young man's infectious smile lit up the track as he etched himself into festival folklore.

Read more:

'He will get warm and jig-joggy beforehand' - Kopek Des Bordes the Supreme standout, but will the hood keep a lid on his temperament?  

A Champion Hurdle conundrum to start this Cheltenham Festival as Constitution Hill faces up to a new and formidable challenger  

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