Hobbs leads tributes to Tom O’Brien
The jockey, who retired in 2023, died at the age of 39 following a battle with cancer.
Philip Hobbs led the tributes to Tom O’Brien after the Grade One-winning jockey died at the age of 39 following a battle with cancer.
The rider, who was a nephew of Aidan O’Brien, was a mainstay of the Minehead operation Hobbs now shares with Johnson White, joining as a teenager and remaining there until his retirement in 2023, including a spell as stable jockey after Richard Johnson hung up his saddle.
O’Brien rode over 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland over the course of his distinguished career including two at the Cheltenham Festival and two victories in the Welsh Grand National.
His most successful mount was arguably the Hobbs-trained Thyme Hill, aboard whom he won both the Liverpool Hurdle (2021) and Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (2022) at the highest level.
Hobbs told the Press Association: “He came to our yard from Ireland having not ridden in a race, but it soon became obvious he was pretty talented and he was with us from the start of his career until the end.
“He was in the shadow of Richard Johnson for a long time being second jockey and then became first jockey after Richard retired, which went well. His biggest win was Thyme Hill in the Grade One at Aintree and he was always very reliable and a very good bloke.
“There’s lots of good memories and there were lots of winners and 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.
“It’s very sad, particularly for his wife Hayley and two young children.”