Former Irish jockey Tom O'Brien has died aged 39 after being diagnosed with cancer, it has been confirmed by British Horseracing Authority (BHA) circles. O'Brien achieved more than 1,000 wins in Britain and Ireland during his career, notably securing two victories at the Cheltenham Festival and two titles in the Welsh Grand National.
O'Brien was the nephew of trainer Aidan O'Brien, and spent the majority of his career as the principal jockey for the Minehead operation run by Philip Hobbs. He joined the team as a teenager and remained with it until his retirement in 2023. During that period, he rode Hobbs' horse Thyme Hill, with whom he won the Liverpool Hurdle in 2021 and the Kauto Star Novices' Chase in 2022.
British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea stated that O'Brien had touched countless lives on both sides of the Irish Sea. "Tom was an exceptional person and his loss will be felt by many in the industry," Dunshea said.
Philip Hobbs, who now shares Minehead with Johnson White, recalled O'Brien's arrival from Ireland. "He came to our yard without having ever ridden in a race," Hobbs said, adding that O'Brien lived half an hour away from the yard and had been there for about three weeks before his death.
O'Brien is survived by his wife Hayley and two young children. After ending his riding career, he joined the BHA stewarding team, where he continued to contribute to the sport to which he had dedicated his life.
