Image © Healy Racing
Alan O’Sullivan has taken the next step in his racing career after turning conditional, making his first start in the professional ranks at Down Royal on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Mallow native partnered Stay In The Game for Shark Hanlon in the Club Lemon Handicap Hurdle, finishing a respectable ninth in the 20-runner contest, and is set to ride again for the Hanlon yard at Wexford on Thursday.
O’Sullivan revealed that the decision had been building for a number of months before committing to the move following Punchestown Festival week.
“I was thinking about it since maybe Christmas, just talking to a few people and getting everyone’s opinion,” he explained.
“I made my mind up that I was going to do it after Punchestown. With the new season, it seemed a good time and Punchestown is such a good meeting for amateurs as well, I didn’t really want to do it before then.”
His final point-to-point ride came at Dromahane on April 26th, a local venue closely associated with his career to date, although he remained active on the track with a number of rides during the Punchestown Festival before making the switch.
“I had a fair idea that was going to be the last day. It was nice to do it at our home track, somewhere that I’ve had so much luck, so it was a nice place to go out.”
Despite the opportunities available in the amateur sphere, the 22-year-old admitted the decision to step away was not straightforward.
“It’s definitely not an easy decision. I love being an amateur and I’m going to miss point-to-pointing, but when you’re thinking about trying to make a living out of it, that comes into it. I just thought there was no harm in giving it a go.”
O’Sullivan, who is able to ride at a minimum of 10 stone, has built up a strong record between the flags. He had his first ride in point-to-points in Ballingarry at the start of the 2020/21 season aboard A Decent Excuse for his uncle Eugene O’Sullivan, who also supplied him with his first winner when It Came To Pass landed an open at Dromahane in April 2022.
In total, he has ridden 35 winners between the flags, alongside 20 victories under Rules, including a standout success at the Galway Festival last year.
“Galway was definitely the highlight,” he said, referring to his victory in the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap – commonly known as the ‘GPT’ – aboard Filey Bay for Emmet Mullins and leading owner J.P. McManus, a victory which earned him the Ride of the Year accolade at the HRI Awards.
“To win the GPT as an amateur is one of the big boxes to tick, so it was great to do it in those colours.”
From a family steeped in racing, O’Sullivan has followed a well-trodden path into the saddle.
“They support everything I do. They were obviously cautious and stuff, but fully supportive.”
His point-to-point career also saw him share the Western Regional title alongside Derek O’Connor in 2023/24, an achievement he ranks among his biggest.
“Derek is the greatest there’s ever been and he was always the person I looked up to, so to share it with him was special.”
Looking ahead, O’Sullivan confirmed that he will be represented by agent Ken Whelan, with his immediate plans still taking shape.
“Plans are a bit fluid at the minute. I’ll probably base myself with Emmet Mullins and move up that direction, and hopefully I’ll still be riding for the same people that supported me on the track and in bumpers.
“Shark has been very good to give me a couple of opportunities as well.”
Alongside his racing ambitions, he is also nearing the completion of a degree in pharmaceutical biotechnology, with exams due to finish later this month.
“It’s good to have something to fall back on, it takes away a bit of the pressure of trying to make a living from racing.”
While his focus now shifts to the professional ranks, he admits he will miss aspects of the point-to-point scene that played such a key role in his life so far.
“I’ll miss the people, especially down in the Cork and Waterford circuit. There’s a great community there and the craic as well.”
