AIDAN O’Brien has spoken of the pain being felt by all who knew his nephew Tom O’Brien, who passed away this week, just shy of his 40th birthday. A former jump jockey who rode winners at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, Tomás – as he was known to his family - was a steward with the British Horseracing Authority up to recently when he was diagnosed with cancer, which was at an advanced stage.

He leaves behind his wife Hayley and two young sons, Archie and Toby.

Tom was a son of Aidan’s eldest brother, Jim, who worked at Ballydoyle for many years before moving with to Owning when Joseph O’Brien began training.

Aidan said: “Tomás was a very reserved person but dedicated and a very hard worker. He was a great horseman, a super husband to Hayley and an unbelievable dad to their two boys. You really had to meet Tomás to understand the kind of man he was.

“It’s just devastating for everybody, really.

“Tomás rode out at Ballydoyle when his dad Jim worked here. Then he took out his jockey’s licence and moved to England and we watched him all the time and talked a lot. Even when he retired from race-riding and became a BHA steward we would see him regularly and he was always a big help to me.”

Tom and Hayley recently accompanied Aidan and his family on trips to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders’ Cup.

“He had an unbelievable racing brain,” Aidan said. “He was always great for opinions on tactics, horses and people. I am probably not doing Tomás justice but if you knew him you would know how special he was.”

Riding career

As a jockey, Tom was mainly associated with the Philip Hobbs yard.

He rode over 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland during the course of his distinguished career, including two victories at the Cheltenham Festival and two Welsh Grand National triumphs, with the story of his 2009 Chepstow win aboard Hobbs’ Dream Alliance subsequently turned into a movie.

However, 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 said: “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 1 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.”

Across Britain and Ireland, jockeys wore black armbands during racing this week and a minute’s silence was observed in his memory at many tracks.

BHA steward

Following his retirement from the saddle in 2023, O’Brien took up a position on the BHA’s stewarding team.

BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea said in a statement: “Everyone at the BHA and across British and Irish racing is mourning the devastating loss of our friend and colleague.

“Tom passed away surrounded by his loved ones following a long and courageous battle with cancer, which he faced with the steely determination and drive that typified the man so many of us knew.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with those closest to Tom, especially his wife Hayley, their two young sons and their entire family. We will do everything to support them during this unimaginably difficult period.

“This news will have had a profound impact on Tom’s weighing-room family. Jockeys past and present who knew and rode with Tom will be distraught by the loss of their friend. We know they have been an unwavering source of support to Tom during his illness.

“In an environment rocked so many times by tragedy in recent years, this will be another shattering blow and we will ensure that support is available for all who need it.”

He went on: “Sadly, Tom’s second career with the BHA’s stewarding team was cut cruelly short, but he made an immediate impression on his colleagues due to his outstanding race-reading ability and sound decision-making. He was a popular member of the team and despite his illness, was always unfailingly helpful and ready to offer advice and guidance.

“Tom was held in the highest esteem and meant so much to so many people across our sport, who benefited from his kindness and loyal friendship.”