Tom O'Brien
Tom O’Brien
Tom O’Brien
Jump jockey Tom O’Brien was born in Wexford on November 28, 1986. He began his career in racing by riding out for his uncle Shay Slevin before starting to ride out for another uncle, Aidan O’Brien, at Ballydoyle, where he partnered champion horses such as High Chaparral and Rock Of Gibraltar.
Jump jockey Tom O’Brien was born in Wexford on November 28, 1986. He began his career in racing by riding out for his uncle Shay Slevin before starting to ride out for another uncle, Aidan O’Brien, at Ballydoyle, where he partnered champion horses such as High Chaparral and Rock Of Gibraltar.
He moved to England in 2004 and joined the stable of Philip Hobbs in Minehead, Somerset. He rode his first winner under rules on The Names Bond, trained by Andy Turnell, in an amateur riders' hurdle at Warwick on December 18, 2004. He was champion amateur rider for the 2005/06 season with 32 winners, which included his first big race success on Captain Corelli in the 2005 Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock.
He moved to England in 2004 and joined the stable of Philip Hobbs in Minehead, Somerset. He rode his first winner under rules on The Names Bond, trained by Andy Turnell, in an amateur riders' hurdle at Warwick on December 18, 2004. He was champion amateur rider for the 2005/06 season with 32 winners, which included his first big race success on Captain Corelli in the 2005 Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock.
Having turned professional in June 2006, he won two races at his first professional race meeting. He was crowned champion conditional for the 2006/07 season, which included his first Graded race winner on Souffleur in the Challow Hurdle. He rode McKelvey to finish second to Silver Birch in the 2007 Grand National, ending that season in third place in the jockey’s championship with a career-best 105 winners, the only time he would top a century during a season.
Having turned professional in June 2006, he won two races at his first professional race meeting. He was crowned champion conditional for the 2006/07 season, which included his first Graded race winner on Souffleur in the Challow Hurdle. He rode McKelvey to finish second to Silver Birch in the 2007 Grand National, ending that season in third place in the jockey’s championship with a career-best 105 winners, the only time he would top a century during a season.
Tom rose to prominence through his links with Philip Hobbs and Peter Bowen, enjoying a famous triumph on the Hobbs-trained Dream Alliance in the 2009 Welsh Grand National, a race he was destined to win again on Elegant Escape for trainer Colin Tizzard nine years later. He partnered Bowen’s chaser Always Waining to consecutive victories in Aintree’s Topham Trophy in 2011 and 2012.
Tom rose to prominence through his links with Philip Hobbs and Peter Bowen, enjoying a famous triumph on the Hobbs-trained Dream Alliance in the 2009 Welsh Grand National, a race he was destined to win again on Elegant Escape for trainer Colin Tizzard nine years later. He partnered Bowen’s chaser Always Waining to consecutive victories in Aintree’s Topham Trophy in 2011 and 2012.
A stalwart of the successful Hobbs operation, he rode as second jockey to Richard Johnson for most of his career, becoming first jockey from 2021 to 2023 following Johnson’s retirement.
A stalwart of the successful Hobbs operation, he rode as second jockey to Richard Johnson for most of his career, becoming first jockey from 2021 to 2023 following Johnson’s retirement.
Tom rode his 1,000th winner (Britain and Ireland combined) aboard Head On at Worcester on August 22, 2021. All but one of those wins were in Britain; his only victory in Ireland being on I Hear A Symphony for Philip Hobbs at the 2008 Punchestown Festival.
Tom rode his 1,000th winner (Britain and Ireland combined) aboard Head On at Worcester on August 22, 2021. All but one of those wins were in Britain; his only victory in Ireland being on I Hear A Symphony for Philip Hobbs at the 2008 Punchestown Festival.
He rode what would prove to be his last winner on Thomas Mor for David Pipe in an Ascot handicap hurdle on February 18, 2023. Four days later he suffered a bad shoulder injury in a fall from maiden hurdler Emotional Memories at Ludlow, which ruled him out of both Cheltenham and Aintree.
He rode what would prove to be his last winner on Thomas Mor for David Pipe in an Ascot handicap hurdle on February 18, 2023. Four days later he suffered a bad shoulder injury in a fall from maiden hurdler Emotional Memories at Ludlow, which ruled him out of both Cheltenham and Aintree.
He returned to action in mid-April but announced his retirement, aged 36, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, when he had his final ride, finishing fourth on Thyme Hill in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown.
He returned to action in mid-April but announced his retirement, aged 36, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, when he had his final ride, finishing fourth on Thyme Hill in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown.
Joined at Sandown by his partner Hayley and two children, two-year-old Archie and one-year-old Toby, Tom said: “I’ve had the most wonderful career and been very lucky all the way through. I’ll always remember it fondly.
Joined at Sandown by his partner Hayley and two children, two-year-old Archie and one-year-old Toby, Tom said: “I’ve had the most wonderful career and been very lucky all the way through. I’ll always remember it fondly.
“I loved riding over the National fences – I won over them three times – until I got to 34 and then I didn’t like it so much anymore. I won two Welsh Nationals, Festival winners, Grade 1 winners and then reaching 1,000 winners. I still hold the record for winners in a season as a conditional. That’s a lot of big achievements.”
“I loved riding over the National fences – I won over them three times – until I got to 34 and then I didn’t like it so much anymore. I won two Welsh Nationals, Festival winners, Grade 1 winners and then reaching 1,000 winners. I still hold the record for winners in a season as a conditional. That’s a lot of big achievements.”
Tom O’Brien rode a total of 1,077 winners during his career. 1,076 in Britain and one in Ireland.
Tom O’Brien rode a total of 1,077 winners during his career. 1,076 in Britain and one in Ireland.
His biggest wins:
His biggest wins:
2005: Tommy Whittle Chase – Captain Corelli
2005: Tommy Whittle Chase – Captain Corelli
2007: Challow Hurdle – Souffleur
2007: Challow Hurdle – Souffleur
2009: Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle – Silk Affair
2009: Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle – Silk Affair
2009: Welsh Grand National – Dream Alliance
2009: Welsh Grand National – Dream Alliance
2010: Rendlesham Hurdle – Souffleur
2010: Rendlesham Hurdle – Souffleur
2011: Topham Chase – Always Waining
2011: Topham Chase – Always Waining
2012: Topham Chase – Always Waining
2012: Topham Chase – Always Waining
2013: Becher Chase – Chance Du Roy
2013: Becher Chase – Chance Du Roy
2016: 1965 Chase – Royal Regatta
2016: 1965 Chase – Royal Regatta
2017: Tolworth Hurdle – Finian’s Oscar
2017: Tolworth Hurdle – Finian’s Oscar
2017: Imperial Cup – London Prize
2017: Imperial Cup – London Prize
2017: Elite Hurdle – London Prize
2017: Elite Hurdle – London Prize
2018: Welsh Grand National – Elegant Escape
2018: Welsh Grand National – Elegant Escape
2019: Tolworth Hurdle – Elixir De Nutz
2019: Tolworth Hurdle – Elixir De Nutz
2020: Paddy Power Gold Cup – Coole Cody
2020: Paddy Power Gold Cup – Coole Cody
2021: Liverpool Hurdle – Thyme Hill
2021: Liverpool Hurdle – Thyme Hill
2022: Pertemps Network Hurdle Final – Third Wind
2022: Pertemps Network Hurdle Final – Third Wind
2022: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Thyme Hill
2022: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Thyme Hill
2023: Denman Chase – Zanza
2023: Denman Chase – Zanza