Jockey Tom O’Brien has died at the age of 39 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Irishman O’Brien rode more than 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland, including two at the Cheltenham Festival and the Welsh Grand National twice.
The nephew of trainer Aidan O’Brien, he was a mainstay of the Minehead operation run by Philip Hobbs, joining as a teenager and remaining until his retirement in 2023.
“He touched countless lives on both sides of the Irish Sea, bringing joy to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him and watching what he did best, on and off the racecourse,” said British Horseracing Authority (BHA) chief executive Brant Dunshea.
“Tom was held in the highest esteem and meant so much to so many people across our sport, who benefitted from his kindness and loyal friendship.
“He will be hugely missed and his loss is immensely difficult to process.
“The racing family is distraught, but I know how we will all rally round to provide each other with support, comfort and to remember Tom as we knew him best: a brilliant jockey, a valued colleague, a loyal friend and above all a loving husband and devoted father.”
Riding the Hobbs-trained Thyme Hill, O’Brien won the Liverpool Hurdle in 2021 and the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in 2022.
“It’s very sad, particularly for his wife Hayley and two young children,” said Hobbs, who now shares Minehead with Johnson White.
“He came to our yard from Ireland having not ridden in a race, but it soon became obvious he was pretty talented.
“He was always very reliable and a very good bloke. There’s lots of good memories and there were lots of winners.
“I’d kept in touch with Tom since his retirement as he only lived half an hour away. He was only in our yard about three weeks ago.”
O’Brien joined the BHA stewarding team after ending his racing career.