Michael O`Sullivan wins the novice title

A tally of 16 wins for the season secures the novice title for Michael O’Sullivan.

19-year-old Michael O’Sullivan secured his first novice riders title when finishing the season four winners clear of his two closest pursuers, Michael Sweeney and Shane Fitzgerald.

With 16 wins on the board this season, the Cork native has certainly enjoyed a season to remember. 
Having endured a slow start to the season, O’Sullivan got off the mark for the 2018/19 term at the end of December.

However the UCD student certainly went on to make up for lost time, riding a string on winners including a treble at Kildorrey and doubles at Bandon and Ballynoe to ensure he was five winners clear in the novice title on 14 winners at the end of March.

Having received a wrist injury at the end of April, O’Sullivan had enough of a buffer built up to insure that 16 winners were enough to fend off the late challenge of both Fitzgerald and Sweeney who enjoyed 14 winners apiece. 

Eugene O’Sullivan provided his nephew with the largest amount of support with 6 winners, while O’Sullivan rode 5 winners for Gerry Kelleher and 3 for Paul Cashman.

His highest profile winner of the season may well have been the Colin Bowe –trained It Sure Is who made £150,000 after winning a four-year-old maiden a Ballynoe under the 2018/19 champion novice rider.