On Friday, 19th December, popular Gloucestershire handler Fergal O’Brien added his name to the list of trainers with 1,000 winners over jumps. This represents a fine achievement for the 53-year-old Irishman who learnt his trade under Nigel Twiston-Davies in Naunton.
Grand National Success as an Assistant
Unlike many involved in the sport, Fergal O’Brien comes from a family with no previous ties to racing. Born in Limerick in 1970, his mother was a cook and his father a bus driver. Nevertheless, the racing bug appears to have bitten the O’Brien clan. Two of Fergal’s brothers left Ireland to pursue careers in the sport, and Fergal followed suit at the age of 16.
Having studied at the British Racing School, Fergal initially worked for Tim Forster before joining Nigel Twiston-Davies in Naunton. In his role as head lad and later assistant trainer, O’Brien played a key role in the preparation of Grand National winners Earth Summit and Bindaree, as well as Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander.
During his 19-year stay at the Twiston-Davies yard, O’Brien trained a small string of hunter chasers under his own name, picking up the first 10 winners of his 1,000 total.
Going It Alone in 2011
With valuable experience under his belt and a taste for training winners, O’Brien set out on his own in 2011. His first winner outside the Hunter Chase sphere was provided by Horsham Lad at Carlisle on 20th October 2011. He ended his debut campaign with 11 winners from 120 runners.
As the quantity and quality of the runners at his yard increased, the winners began to flow. Having broken through the 50-winner barrier for the first time in 2016/17, O’Brien registered his first century in a 104-winner 2020/21 season. Improving to 128 winners in 2021/22, he then set a career-best with 141 winners in 2022/23, amassing over £1.6 million in prize money.
Landmark Winner Arrives at Uttoxeter
The success of Strong Run at Southwell on 14th December took O’Brien to 998 National Hunt wins in Britain, plus one in Ireland. The total remained at 999 through meetings at Lingfield, Wincanton, and Ludlow, but O’Brien finally reached the magical total at Uttoxeter on 19th December.
The market suggested that Heart Over Head would play second fiddle to Olly Murphy’s odds-on favourite, Drayton Flyer, in the Richard Winterton Auctioneers Handicap Hurdle. Heart Over Head had failed to win in his six previous outings, but he relished the step up in trip to score by an easy 15 lengths.
Delighted to have hit the 1000 NH winner mark this afternoon
Even better that Heart Over Head is owned by @NicBrez who has been a massive part of the team here #TeamFOB pic.twitter.com/QX4zc0SWL6
— Fergal O’Brien Racing (@FOBRacing) December 19, 2025
Reflecting on his achievement, O’Brien confessed that he had only recently become aware of how close he was to the 1,000 mark. He said:
“I actually didn’t realise until someone mentioned it at Wincanton the other day. If you’d rung me, said I’d had 800 winners, I’d have been delighted.”
He then added:
“I think I’ve been very lucky that I enjoy it, today perhaps more than I did back then, and that’s probably down to experience. I used to get very nervous before races, but now I feel very privileged to train racehorses, especially jumpers. I honestly couldn’t think of a better job to be doing.”
Grade 1 Glory
O’Brien’s catalogue of winners is littered with highlights, including big handicap wins in the Midlands Grand National (Chase The Spud 2017), Edinburgh National (Captain Cattistock 2022), and Greatwood Gold Cup (Paint The Dream 2022). However, as with most jump trainers, it is the Grade 1 victories which stand out from the crowd. As of December 2025, O’Brien has tasted Grade 1 success on three occasions:
- 2017 Challow Novices Hurdle – Poetic Rhythm
- 2023 Long Walk Hurdle – Crambo
- 2024 Long Walk Hurdle – Crambo
Cheltenham Festival Winner the Goal for 2026
Fergal O’Brien now has 1,000 National Hunt winners to his name, plus 24 on the flat, with his runners earning over £10 million in prize money for connections. However, there is one glaring omission from his CV. Despite numerous attempts, O’Brien has yet to saddle a winner at the Cheltenham Festival.
Unsurprisingly, a winner at Prestbury Park in March features towards the top of the trainer’s wish list. Looking to the future, O’Brien said:
“The next part has to be the next 1,000, but the big one is getting that festival winner. That’s the one hanging over me, and I need to put that to bed at some point.”
