MICHAEL O’Sullivan enjoyed a dream start to the 2023 Cheltenham Festival when partnering the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale to win the opening race of the week, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Despite his relative inexperience, having only turned professional that previous September, O’Sullivan proved well up to the task. In doing so, he added to a remarkable family legacy which dates back to the 1991 Foxhunters’ Chase.