Cheltenham Festival-Winning Jockey Tom O'Brien Dies at 39 After Cancer Battle

Tom O'Brien, the two-time Cheltenham Festival winning jockey who rode more than 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland, has died at the age of 39 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Sky Sports reported his death on Wednesday, and Sporting Life reported the same news. He retired from riding in April 2023.

O'Brien was born in Ireland and moved to Britain in 2004 to join trainer Philip Hobbs, who he rode for until his retirement. His breakthrough came in the 2006-07 season, when he rode 105 winners and was crowned champion conditional jockey.

Five Grade One wins

O'Brien rode five Grade One winners. The first came on Souffleur for Bowen in the 2007 Challow Novices' Hurdle. Later in his career he built a strong partnership with the Hobbs trained Thyme Hill, winning the 2021 Liverpool Hurdle and the 2022 Kauto Star Novices' Chase on the horse. Sporting Life listed Finian's Oscar and Elixir De Nutz among his other Grade One winners.

His two Cheltenham Festival wins came on Silk Affair in the 2009 Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle and on Third Wind in the 2022 Pertemps Final. He also won the Welsh Grand National twice. In 2009 he rode Dream Alliance to victory in the race, a win that later inspired the film Dream Horse. Sporting Life said he also landed the Welsh Grand National on Elegant Escape.

Tributes from the weighing room

Johnson White, now co-trainer with Philip Hobbs, spoke about O'Brien on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. White said: "You couldn't get a harder working, nicer family man. I messaged Richard Johnson this morning and he sent a message back saying 'life is so cruel' and realistically you can't say any more than that. He leaves a lovely wife Hayley, two wonderful boys and a loving family that were there with him until the end."

British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea paid tribute in a statement reported by Sky Sports. Dunshea said: "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 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."

Dunshea added: "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."

Sky Sports Racing broadcaster Mike Cattermole wrote on X: "Really saddened to hear about the passing of Tom O'Brien at 39. Obviously an excellent jockey but just a lovely guy, so gentle and humble. Thinking about all those who were close to him. Life is such a lottery."

His death was reported a day after Australian racing confirmed that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, 22, had died from injuries suffered in a fall at Warren in New South Wales. The Sun reported that racing plans to remember O'Brien at Cheltenham this weekend, where the three-day November meeting begins on Friday.