'I've had the most wonderful career' - jockey Tom O'Brien bows out at Sandown

Tom O'Brien, a stalwart of the successful Philip Hobbs operation and a multiple Grade 1-winning jockey, announced his retirement on Saturday when he had his final ride when finishing fourth on Thyme Hill in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown.

O'Brien began riding in Ireland, but moved to Britain and was champion conditional in the 2006-07 season, rising to prominence through his links with Hobbs and Peter Bowen.

He rode a steady stream of notable winners, including on Souffleur for Bowen in the 2007 Challow Hurdle, while he enjoyed a famous triumph in the 2009 Welsh Grand National on Dream Alliance and landed that race again on Elegant Escape for the Colin Tizzard stable in 2018.

By then, the jockey, nephew of the legendary trainer Aidan O'Brien, had won the previous season's Fred Winter on Silk Affair and he added a second Cheltenham Festival winner to his CV last year with Third Wind in the Pertemps Final.

O’Brien, who was joined by his partner Hayley and two children, two-year-old Archie and one-year-old Toby, said: "I’ll miss it, it’s a funny old time but I’ve had the most wonderful time. He [Thyme Hill] ran okay, they didn’t go quick enough and I probably should have bounced out but he wanders about in front.

"I’ve had the most wonderful career and been very lucky all the way through. I’ll always remember it fondly. I decided a couple of months ago and then I had a horrible shoulder injury in February. I felt I’ve given it my all and I want to give my all to something else.

Dream Alliance and Tom O'Brien jump the last in the 2009 Welsh NationalCredit: Julian Finney (Getty Images)

"I’ve so many good memories, I loved riding over the National fences – I won over them three times – until I got to 34 and then I didn’t like it so much anymore. I won two Welsh Nationals, Festival winners, Grade 1 winners and then reaching 1,000 winners. I still hold the record for winners in a season as a conditional. There’s lots of big achievements."

His long-term ally Hobbs said: "He's been with us for the best part of 20 years. He came to us having never ridden in a race. He's been with us all that time and waited many years for Richard Johnson to retire, which took longer than expected. He's extremely reliable and a thoroughly good bloke as well as a good jockey."

O'Brien's other top-flight winners were Finian's Oscar and Elixir De Nutz, who both landed Sandown's Tolworth Novices' Hurdle, and Thyme Hill, who won the Liverpool Hurdle in 2021 and the Kauto Star Novices' Chase this season.

The 36-year-old, who missed the Cheltenham Festival this spring because of his shoulder injury, had his most prolific season in that 2006-07 conditional campaign when he partnered 105 winners.

Tom O'Brien CV

Born November 28, 1986

First winner under rules The Names Bond (trainer Andy Turnell) amateur riders' hurdle, Warwick, December 18, 2004

First big-race winner Captain Corelli (2005 Tommy Whittle Chase)

First Graded winner Souffleur (2007 Challow Novices' Hurdle)

Liverpool Hurdle winner Thyme Hill (2021)

Other Grade 1 winners Finian's Oscar (2017 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle), Elixir De Nutz (2019 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle), Thyme Hill (2022 Kauto Star Novices' Chase)

Welsh Grand National winners Dream Alliance (2009), Elegant Escape (2018)

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Coole Cody (2020)

Topham Chase winner Always Waining (2011, 2012)

Cheltenham Festival winners Silk Affair (2009 Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle), Third Wind (2022 Pertemps Network Hurdle Final)

Other notable winners Souffleur (2010 Rendlesham Hurdle), Chance Du Roy (2013 Becher Chase), Royal Regatta (2016 1965 Chase), London Prize (2017 Imperial Cup, Elite Hurdle), Zanza (2023 Denman Chase)

Grand National runner-up McKelvey (2007, to Silver Birch)

1,000th win (GB/Ireland combined) Head On, Worcester, August 22, 2021

Grade 1 wins 5

Cheltenham Festival wins 2

Champion amateur rider 2005-06

Champion conditional jockey 2006-07

Highest position in jockeys' championship 3rd in 2006-07

Most wins in a season 105 in 2006-07

Total wins 1,077 (GB 1,076, Ireland 1)

Main trainer Philip Hobbs 2004-23 (first jockey 2021-23)

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