Tom O'Brien: key obituary facts
Is Tom O'Brien dead? Yes. Tom O'Brien died on November 11, 2026, at age 39.
Cause of death: Tom O'Brien's cause of death was reported as Cancer.
What was Tom O'Brien known for?
He was an Irish jockey.
More about Tom O'Brien
Tom O’Brien, a British-based Irish jockey who competed in National Hunt racing, died of cancer on November 11, 2026, aged 39.
Born in Wexford, he began in racing by riding out for his uncle Shay Slevin, then for another uncle, Aidan O’Brien. At Aidan O’Brien’s yard, he rode champion horses including High Chaparral and Rock of Gibraltar.
After riding in point-to-points, he moved to England in 2004 to work at Philip Hobbs’s stable in Minehead, Somerset, remaining there until his retirement in 2023. O’Brien was champion amateur rider in the 2005/06 season, with 32 winners. Among them was Captain Corelli, whom he rode to victory in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock Park. He turned professional in June 2006 and won twice at his first professional meeting. In 2006/07, he became champion conditional jockey with 123 winners, the highest seasonal total of his career. His early milestones thus came in successive seasons, from amateur champion to conditional champion, following his move from point-to-points and work in Ireland to a long-standing base with Hobbs in England.