Tom O'Shea

Tom O’Shea

Article by Alan Trout

Thomas O’Shea had his first ride at Uttoxeter on September 23, 1954, when Shilford finished unplaced in the appropriately, if unimaginatively, titled September Handicap Hurdle.

A win by four lengths on Astriali in the Stanton Selling Handicap Chase at Wolverhampton on December 27, 1954, was the first of his three victories during a relatively brief career. The race was for novice riders, with Stan Mellor and Tony Keen among his more experienced rivals, but both their mounts fell. 

Astriali was owned by Birmingham bookmaker Geoff Gilbert and trained by Percy Arm at Bucknell, in Shropshire. Back at Wolverhampton exactly four weeks later, Tom and Astriali won again, landing the January Selling Handicap Chase, again by four lengths. 

Tom had his third and final victory at Worcester on March 7 when Tartan Lass, owned and trained by Percy Arm, narrowly beat Nahama, ridden by the great Fred Winter, to land the Hallow Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) by half a length. 

He ended that 1954/55 season with three wins, two seconds and one third from 34 rides. He did not renew his licence the following season but made a brief return in the 1956/57 campaign. It appears likely that he only had one ride that season, when Ravenstone was a faller in the Fitzwilliam Selling Handicap Chase at Doncaster on November 23, 1956. It is not known whether that fall prevented him from continuing his career.