Tom O'Brien

Background

Son of Wexford-born Jim O'Brien, O'Brien began his career in racing riding out for Shay Slevin before starting to ride out for uncle Aidan O'Brien where he rode legendary horses such as High Chaparral and Rock of Gibraltar.

Career

After riding in point-to-points, O'Brien moved to England in 2004 in the hope of getting more rides. In the 2005-06 season, Tom was crowned Champion Amateur rider with 32 winners and turned professional in June of that year, winning two races at his first professional race meeting. In 2007 and 2008, O'Brien rode McKelvey in the Grand National, coming second to Silver Birch in 2007.

O'Brien is a regular jockey for Philip Hobbs and Peter Bowen and is based in the South West of England.

Achievements

• In 2005, O'Brien had his first big race win on Captain Corelli in the Tommy Wittle Chase at Haydock. At the 2009 Cheltenham Festival, O'Brien rode Silk Affair to a win in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle.