Article by Chris Pitt
Oliver Brennan was the elder brother of jockey-turned-trainer the late Owen Brennan. Oliver came to England from Ireland in 1953, four years before Owen, and joined Matt Feakes’ stable, which was originally based at Lewes but subsequently moved to Upper Lambourn.
His first winning ride in Britain was in March 1957, on the Feakes-trained Beau Sejour at Worcester. Beau Sejour then provided Oliver with his second British success when following up at Newton Abbot the next month.
Almost all of the 19 winners Oliver rode in Britain were trained by Feakes. The best of them was undoubtedly Eagle Lodge, on whom he won twice over fences, firstly at Kempton in November 1957 and then at Fontwell on Boxing Day 1958.
Oliver’s final winner was achieved on the Saturday of the 1964 Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend aboard Dancing Carnie for Feakes in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Towcester. Two days later, on Whit Monday, 18 May, he had the last two rides of his career at Uttoxeter, finishing sixth on Bangle over hurdles and then second on Signal Hill in a novices’ chase, both again being trained by Matt Feakes.
He joined Dick Hern as a work rider and rode many of Hern's best horses on the gallops, including Brigadier Gerard. He subsequently became a head lad for Barry Hills.
Oliver passed away on June 22, 2016, following a long illness.
His funeral took place at Swindon Crematorium on July 15.
Oliver Brennan’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Beau Sejour, Worcester, 25 March 1957
2. Beau Sejour, Newton Abbot, 20 April 1957
3. Eagle Lodge, Kempton, 20 November 1957
4. Rock Hyacinth, Kempton, 26 December 1957
5. Sea Cash, Uttoxeter, 20 September 1958
6. Eagle Lodge, Fontwell, 26 December 1958
7. Tauranga, Birmingham, 2 November 1959
8. Tauranga, Sandown, 21 November 1959
9. Rawdon Crawley, Kempton, 24 February 1961
10. Rawdon Crawley, Plumpton, 3 April 1961
11. Never Say Damn, Stratford, 6 April 1961
12. Rawdon Crawley, Towcester, 22 April 1961
13. Robert-the-Runner, Towcester, 22 May 1961
14. Dancing Carnie, Towcester, 23 April 1962
15. Skate In, Kempton, 22 November 1962
16. Portation, Kempton, 15 March 1963
17. Alsike, Hereford, 16 March 1963
18. Portation, Wincanton, 25 April 1963
19. Dancing Carnie, Towcester, 16 May 1964
