Tom O’Brien

Already a winner over the Aintree Grand National fences this season, Tom O’Brien is hoping to add the 2014 National to the Becher Chase he won back in December also on board Chance Du Roy.

This will be the Irish jockey’s 6th Grand National attempt and although he hasn’t won it yet, he did finish second on his debut back in 2007 when on board McKelvey.

He renewed his partnership with him again in 2008 but got unseated and in 2009 fell off Zabenz before returning in 2010 on Dream Alliance where he pulled-up at the 24th fence.

Born in 1986, O’Brien began his career in racing riding out for Shay Slevin before starting to ride out for uncle Aidan O’Brien where he rode legendary horses such as High Chaparral and Rock of Gibraltar.

O’Brien moved to England in 2004 in the hope of getting more rides and in the 2005-06 season was crowned Champion Amateur rider with 32 winners and turned professional in June of that year, winning two races at his first professional race meeting.

This season alone he has had over 450 run with a win rate of 17% in chases and has earned connections in excess of £370K.