‘I know that you expect me to ask you to stop riding’: Jockey Alan O’Sullivan, a year after the death of his brother

Nine days ago, Alan O’Sullivan rode in the bumper in Thurles, the last race on a workaday midweek card. The collar bone he had broken in a point-to-point was heavily strapped, but it was strong enough to take the strain. The horse he was booked to ride wasn’t fancied; sent off at 16-1, Bravewave got stuck in the mud and trailed in nearly 40 lengths behind the winner. For once, the result didn’t really matter. On that Thurles card, 12 months earlier, his brother Michael took a fall that ultimately claimed his life. For weeks, or maybe longer, Alan had been thinking about how he would spend that day. Riding felt like the most natural thing to do. It was the passion they shared. In their lives,...