Name: Alan O’Sullivan
Age: 18
From: Mallow, Co Cork
Cork native, Alan O’Sullivan registered his first success between the flags on Sunday 3rd April at Dromahane. Alan partnered It Came To Pass to victory in the Open – Novice riders for his Uncle, Eugene O’Sullivan.
Alan is from a family rich in point-to-point history, his father Michael a prolific point-to-point rider rode the winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 1991 aboard Lovely Citizen for his brother Eugene O’Sullivan.
Alan is a brother to Michael O’Sullivan, an up-and-coming promising young rider, and a cousin to champion lady rider Maxine O’Sullivan. It was on the same horse, It Came To Pass, which Maxine also rode to victory in the 2021 Cheltenham Foxhunters.
Alan partnered It Came To Pass a week later to win the Open at Dromahane.
How did you get started with horses?
I grew up on a farm, I was always around horses growing up. My uncle, Eugene O’Sullivan is a trainer, and all my cousins are jockeys.
I had ponies growing up, I used to do a lot of pony club and hunting with the Dulhallow hunt. I’m from a big racing background, my brother rides and all my cousins do too.
My Uncle trains point-to-pointers so it was inevitable I’d get into horses.
How did you start riding out racehorses?
I was about 12 or 13 when I started riding out the racehorses. I started riding out for my Uncle Eugene.
Did you always want to take out your Qualified Riders License?
I knew nothing else, this is all I wanted to do growing up so I was always keen to take out my point-to-point license.
I’ll concentrate on riding in point-to-points for the next few years and see how it goes. Maybe one day I’d like to get a few rides on the track.
Who are you currently working or riding out for?
I’m currently doing my leaving cert so I’m at school full time and that, unfortunately, takes most of my time up!
I ride out for my Uncle Eugene on Saturdays and during my school holidays too.
I spent a summer at Enda Bolger’s and Johnny Murtagh’s that was a great experience, getting to school every day and learning the flat trade too.
Hopefully, next year when I’ve left school, I’ll be able to ride out for a few more trainers and get a bit more experience under my belt.
You must have been delighted to get your first winner on the board, can you tell me a bit more about it?
It was great to get my first winner after a frustrating bout of seconds! Eugene and Maxine gave me the opportunity to ride It Came To Pass and it worked out well.
I went on to ride another winner on him again a week later, I probably enjoyed that one a bit more riding against Derek O’Connor!
Were your family there to there to see you ride your first winner?
It was our local track so my grandmother was there, she wouldn’t usually go racing unless it was at our local track, so I was delighted she got to see it!
My father was actually the starter at Dromahane that day so he was there too. My brother Michael was riding there that day so he was there to see me ride my first winner, everyone was there to see it!
Who is your biggest influence in racing?
Definitely Michael, he’s always been the one that’s been there for me, looking out for me and giving me advice.
Any jockeys that you aspire to?
Derek O’Connor would be a big one for me, growing up he was always the main man. You’d always back Derek no matter what he was riding.
Have you any ambitions for the rest of the season?
Just hoping to get a few more outside rides and hopefully a couple more winners.
Have you any interests outside of racing?
I play a bit of football for Kilshannig GAA, but most of my time is taken up with school and horses.
With the Irish National just around the corner, who is your idea of the winner?
Ciaran Murphy’s horse Enjoy D’Allen was very unlucky to fall at Aintree last weekend and he’s out for a bit of redemption I’d say.
