Cork certainly showed up at Cheltenham this year, as the race dedicated to the late jockey Michael O’Sullivan, opened the 2025 festival earlier this week and fittingly, saw Fermoy-owned Kopek Des Bordes take victory.
When Paul Townend rode the 4-6 favourite to clinch the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday, there were emotional scenes as Fermoy businessman, Charlie McCarthy and his sons – CJ, James, David, and Andrew – led the horse into the winners' enclosure. In advance of the meet, Mr McCarthy expressed his hope to bring a win to Fermoy and Cork in tribute to the Lombardstown, Mallow jockey, who tragically passed away following a fall at Thurles last month.
“I am on cloud nine. Is there a bigger cloud to be on? I just can’t get over it. Here with my sons, to win at Cheltenham and to win the Novice’s Supreme Hurdle and after everything I’ve been through, it is a dream come true and the dream is not finished yet,” he said.
Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition
