Thomas O'Brien
Thomas O’Brien
Thomas O’Brien
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Thomas O'Brien had a dozen winners over jumps between 1908 and 1912, achieving his greatest success in the 1911 Liverpool Hurdle.
Thomas O'Brien had a dozen winners over jumps between 1908 and 1912, achieving his greatest success in the 1911 Liverpool Hurdle.
He had his first victory at Newbury on December 17, 1908, when Waveen won the Hants Hurdle. It was only the three-year-old’s second race, having finished unplaced at Portsmouth Park the previous month when ridden by former champion jockey Bert Gordon.
He had his first victory at Newbury on December 17, 1908, when Waveen won the Hants Hurdle. It was only the three-year-old’s second race, having finished unplaced at Portsmouth Park the previous month when ridden by former champion jockey Bert Gordon.
Just four days after his first success, again having his first ride on a three-year-old, Thomas doubled his score when Athol won the Seabrook Selling Hurdle at Folkestone. As with Waveen, Athol was trained by Major John Edwards (1851-1923), who also supplied Thomas with all three of his wins in 1909.
Just four days after his first success, again having his first ride on a three-year-old, Thomas doubled his score when Athol won the Seabrook Selling Hurdle at Folkestone. As with Waveen, Athol was trained by Major John Edwards (1851-1923), who also supplied Thomas with all three of his wins in 1909.
Later, Thomas teamed up with trainer Edward Craven and in 1911 the pair landed one of the biggest races of the year when Peregrine Pickle won the Liverpool Hurdle, which, along with Sandown’s Imperial Cup, Gatwick’s Grand International Hurdle and Cheltenham’s County Hurdle, comprised the most valuable hurdle races prior to the introduction of the Champion Hurdle in 1927. In a close finish, the five-year-old Peregrine Pickle beat Himan, the mount of Fred Butchers, by a head.
Later, Thomas teamed up with trainer Edward Craven and in 1911 the pair landed one of the biggest races of the year when Peregrine Pickle won the Liverpool Hurdle, which, along with Sandown’s Imperial Cup, Gatwick’s Grand International Hurdle and Cheltenham’s County Hurdle, comprised the most valuable hurdle races prior to the introduction of the Champion Hurdle in 1927. In a close finish, the five-year-old Peregrine Pickle beat Himan, the mount of Fred Butchers, by a head.
After the race, Paddy Cowley, who rode the unplaced Redmond, complained to the stewards that Alf Newey, who finished third on Ben-a-Bahn, had “bored him onto the rails”. The stewards of the National Hunt Committee investigated the incident, found Newey was entirely to blame and suspended him.
After the race, Paddy Cowley, who rode the unplaced Redmond, complained to the stewards that Alf Newey, who finished third on Ben-a-Bahn, had “bored him onto the rails”. The stewards of the National Hunt Committee investigated the incident, found Newey was entirely to blame and suspended him.
Thomas rode his final winner on McKittridge in the Novices’ Hurdle at Folkestone on March 4, 1912. He had his last ride on the same horse at Hooton Park just four days later when finishing fourth of eight runners in the Hooton Park Hurdle.
Thomas rode his final winner on McKittridge in the Novices’ Hurdle at Folkestone on March 4, 1912. He had his last ride on the same horse at Hooton Park just four days later when finishing fourth of eight runners in the Hooton Park Hurdle.
Thomas O’Brien’s winners were, in chronological order:
Thomas O’Brien’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Waveen, Newbury, December 17, 1908
1. Waveen, Newbury, December 17, 1908
2. Athol, Folkestone, December 21, 1908
2. Athol, Folkestone, December 21, 1908
3. Mrs. Girdle, Sandown Park, February 6, 1909
3. Mrs. Girdle, Sandown Park, February 6, 1909
4. Chota Sahib, Hereford, April 12, 1909
4. Chota Sahib, Hereford, April 12, 1909
5. Chota Sahib, Pershore, May 4, 1909
5. Chota Sahib, Pershore, May 4, 1909
6. Maximilian, Birmingham, January 3, 1910
6. Maximilian, Birmingham, January 3, 1910
7. Peregrine Pickle, Hooton Park, November 5, 1910
7. Peregrine Pickle, Hooton Park, November 5, 1910
8. Peregrine Pickle, Newbury, January 18, 1911
8. Peregrine Pickle, Newbury, January 18, 1911
9. Peregrine Pickle, Liverpool, March 25, 1911
9. Peregrine Pickle, Liverpool, March 25, 1911
10. Gallas, Uttoxeter, May 22, 1911
10. Gallas, Uttoxeter, May 22, 1911
11. Gallas, Hooton Park, June 5, 1911
11. Gallas, Hooton Park, June 5, 1911
12. McKittridge, Folkestone, March 4, 1912
12. McKittridge, Folkestone, March 4, 1912
Thomas' biggest winner, Peregrine Pickle