Michael O’Sullivan grew up listening to stories of his dad’s Cheltenham Festival triumphs and now has two such tales of his own to tell after a memorable start to the week, writes Paul Martin.

Having got off to a dream start by leading Marine Nationale to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the week’s opener, O’Sullivan piloted Jazzy Matty to glory in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

A thrilling finish saw Gordon Elliott’s four-year-old edge out Byker and Risk Belle to get the trainer up and running for the week and place O’Sullivan at the top of the fledgling Festival leading jockey standings.

"It has been an unbelievable day," he told Racing TV. “He’s a big horse so I just gave him plenty of room and he travelled everywhere for me. I was confident enough I had plenty of horse left and he won with plenty in hand.

“I felt I was always getting there. I lost a lot of momentum over the last so to pick up over that ground was very good.

“Dad [former jockey Willie] is amazing. I grew up listening to stories of him riding and how good he was.

“He rode a Festival winner and he was a very accomplished amateur. He never pushed me too much but when he saw I had interest, he gave me every opportunity, drove me all over the country and spent a lot of money.

“He’s put a lot of time into me and it’s great to see it paying off. It’s great that he’s here today.”

A dream day for @Michael_OSull continues!

Jazzy Matty wins a Boodles thriller to get @gelliott_racing up and running for the week ✅#GreenTeam | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/nuFoj5nDr0

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) March 14, 2023

O’Sullivan Snr was the proudest man in the parade ring after watching his son enter the winner’s enclosure for the second time and added: “I couldn’t be prouder.

“He’s worked very hard at his riding all his life and I couldn’t be happier for him. He really deserves it.

There was another father-son success story in the day’s final race, the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase, as Patrick Mullins steered home Gaillard Du Mesnil for dad Willie.

The Festival’s all-time leading trainer took his tally to 90 with a double on the opening day but this particular odds-on favourite needed more than a touch of fortune, with John McConnell’s Mahler Mission falling when leading the field two from home.

“I was having a cup of tea at the time and thought ‘this is over’,” Mullins said.

“I couldn’t see him winning until the other horse fell and he got a run going to the last. It was a very fortunate winner for us on the day but you need luck.

“He has loads of stamina but he just didn’t pick up the way I thought he would. It will take a while to get over a race like that, three miles and six – the Irish National and Aintree might come too soon.”

He’s put a lot of time into me and it’s great to see it paying off

- Michael O'Sullivan on dad Willie