The race meeting at Thurles was abandoned on Thursday after an air ambulance was called to help an injured jockey.

Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Michael O’Sullivan came down at the last fence of a dramatic second race at the Co Tipperary track.

He was riding the Gerard O’Leary-trained Wee Charlie who had made good headway to be one of a number of horses still in contention approaching the final fence of the second race on the card, a 2m handicap chase.

But Wee Charlie was one of three horses that fell at the fence in an incident in which two others were badly hampered and unseated their jockeys.

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The rest of the meeting was significantly delayed while O’Sullivan received medical attention.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board said on its X account: “Michael O’Sullivan continues to receive medical attention following a fall in race two at @thurlesraces. Racing is delayed as we await the arrival of the air ambulance.”

O’Sullivan shot to prominence in 2023 when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard Marine Nationale, also tasting Grade One glory with Barry Connell’s charge at Fairyhouse.

However after 90 minutes no more racing took place with the decision taking to abandon the rest of the meeting.

The IHRB said: “The air ambulance has arrived at @thurlesraces and Michael O’Sullivan is being treated by the medical team on track.

“Due to the ongoing medical situation the remainder of the meeting has been abandoned.”

A later update said: "Michael was stabilised prior to being transferred by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital.

RacingTV presenter Anthony Dunkley said: “Thurles has been officially abandoned due to the medical emergency that Michael O’Sullivan has been undertaking on the track.

“We have heard the air ambulance is there and they are attending to Michael.

“All we can do is cross our fingers and send our best thoughts to him and his loved ones in an horrific situation which has of course caused the rest of the card to be abandoned.”