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The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Aidan O'Brien's life beyond horse racing with wife and children including trainer son Joseph
AIDAN O'Brien marked his latest career milestone over the weekend as Lambourn became the 20th horse to complete the Anglo-Irish double . Aidan, 55, was joined in the celebratory scenes at the Curragh's winners enclosure by wife Ann-Marie. 3 Celebrating Saturday's victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with wife Anne-Marie Credit: Inpho 3 Saturday's success was the 17th time he's trained an Irish Derby winner Credit: PA 3 Son Joseph, 32, is a rising star as a trainer Credit: Getty Here, SunSport delves into his life beyond the race track with Ann-Marie and their four children. WHERE IS AIDAN O'BRIEN FROM? The Ballydoyle handler hails from County Wexford though his yard is actually located in Tipperary near Rosegreen. It is owned by John Magnier and Coolmore Stud. He was born on October 16 1969 as one of six kids. His dad Denis was involved in the racing industry but only as a small-time trainer with his day job being farming. Aidan went to secondary school at New Ross' Good Counsel College. Interestingly, he's been a proud pioneer since his teenage days and has always abstained from alcohol. Read More On Irish Sport WHO IS AIDAN O'BRIEN'S WIFE? He and Anne-Marie tied the knot in 1991. They have four children with racing fans needing no introduction to son Joseph who at 32, has already established himself as a quality trainer in his own right. But their three other offspring in son Donnacha and daughters Sarah Anastasia have also been jockeys before so the whole family is steeped in the sport. Aidan is no relation to Irish racing icon Vincent O'Brien who dominated on both sides of the Irish Sea before Aidan took over the Ballydoyle stables after he retired in 1994. PERSONAL INSIGHTS The flat legend largely keeps his private life just that. Most read in Horse Racing But in a rare feature interview last year with In the piece he's compared to Aidan O'Brien loses his cool in passionate TV interview after Lambourn wins Irish Derby But days of failure still come such as Asked how he deals with setbacks like that, O'Brien emphasized compartmentalising is a crucial aspect of the racing game since it is such a relentless calendar. He outlined: "Look, when the day is bad like that, I get on the plane and I sleep. That's the first thing, to cut myself off. "When I get home, I'll have two or three hours work to do in the yard and set up tomorrow morning. "That takes me to bed time. I'll go straight to sleep and when I get up, I never thinking about yesterday. It's gone. "By thinking about it, you're not going to get it back. You have to get focused on the days in front and learn from the things we need to be working on. "I can sleep no problem. If you don't sleep, the next day you'll be destroyed and the reason I would sleep is to let your mind heal, relax and go on. "If you start off the day after not sleeping it's going to be a disaster the next day and that's a little bit of a strange thing that I've done over the years."
Powys County Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Serious Contender proves well named with Irish Derby effort
Gavin Ryan came close to breaking his Classic duck on Serious Contender, who gave odds-on favourite and stablemate Lambourn a real fright in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh. Second in a handicap at Royal Ascot, Serious Contender was sent off a relatively unconsidered 28-1 chance but gave his 8-13 stable companion plenty to think about. Having had to work hard to see off the Ralph Beckett second string Sir Dinadan, Lambourn and Ryan Moore might have felt they had done enough but Serious Contender made them pull out all the stops, eventually going down by just three-quarters of a length. 'He's a lovely horse, a big laid-back type and he was coming off it (bridle) a long way out, the more you ask the more he gives you,' said Ryan. 'He's a big, tough, genuine type and it was a lovely run.' Charlie Johnston's Lazy Griff has now finished behind Lambourn at Chester, Epsom and the Curragh but another clash could be on the cards in September at Doncaster. 'It wasn't an easy watch, after half a mile I thought 'we're not winning, that's for sure' as he just couldn't hold his pitch,' Johnston told Racing TV. 'He was getting bullied out of where he wanted to be by the Ballydoyle contingent and horses who were just travelling better than him so we ended up further back than we wanted. 'Even turning into the straight I thought we were treading water but then that last furlong when he met the rising ground he's flown home. 'We were always concerned about the ground coming in to this meeting and clearly softer ground would have suited him better and another two furlongs is going to suit him so if the winner is going to the Leger we're all ready for round four! 'It's about time this horse started to get the credit he deserves, he's been placed in two Derbys now, he's been overlooked at every step so far but he keeps showing he belongs at this level and that is where he'll be going forward.' Joseph O'Brien's Tennessee Stud, just like he had at Epsom, finished behind Lambourn and Lazy Griff back in fourth. His jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle said: 'It was a great run, he just got a little bit outpaced at the bottom of the straight but he came home well inside the last furlong and hit the line strong.'
RTÉ News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Lambourn completes Derby double at the Curragh
Lambourn extended Aidan O'Brien's stellar record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, as he became the 20th horse to follow up Epsom success at the Curragh with a battling victory over stablemate Serious Contender. Sent off the 8-13 favourite to repeat his Epsom triumph, Ryan Moore tried to replicate Wayne Lordan's inspired front-running ride on the Surrey Downs, but met stern resistance from Ralph Beckett's second-string Sir Dinadan, who refused to let Lambourn get his own way in front. Moore stoked up the Epsom hero rounding the home turn and although Sir Dinadan's challenge began to wilt, it was Ballydoyle stablemate and King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender in the hands of Gavin Ryan who loomed large looking a huge threat. The Ballydoyle pair began to duel inside the final furlong, but Lambourn proved a willing ally for Moore as his stamina and Classic quality came to the fore to win by three-quarters of a length and earn a place in the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo who also did the Anglo-Irish Derby double. Serious Contender finished second at 28-1, with Charlie Johnston's Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff staying on for third at 14-1. Epsom hero Lambourn (8-13F) doubles up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to give Ryan Moore a hat-trick of wins in the Curragh Classic, while it's a remarkable record-extending 17th success in the race for Aidan O'Brien — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 29, 2025 "He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well," said O'Brien. "Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride. "Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way. "He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine." — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 29, 2025
Powys County Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Lambourn toughs it out to land Derby double
Lambourn extended Aidan O'Brien's stellar record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, as he became the 20th horse to follow up Epsom success at the Curragh with a battling victory over stablemate Serious Contender. Sent off the 8-13 favourite to repeat his Epsom triumph, Ryan Moore tried to replicate Wayne Lordan's inspired front-running ride on the Surrey Downs, but met stern resistance from Ralph Beckett's second-string Sir Dinadan who refused to let Lambourn get his own way in front. Moore stoked up the Epsom hero rounding the home turn and although Sir Dinadan's challenge began to wilt, it was Ballydoyle stablemate and King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender in the hands of Gavin Ryan who loomed large looking a huge threat. The Ballydoyle pair began to duel inside the final furlong, but Lambourn proved a willing ally for Moore as his stamina and Classic quality came to the fore to win by three-quarters of a length and earn a place in the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo who also did the Anglo-Irish Derby double. Serious Contender finished second at 28-1, with Charlie Johnston's Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff staying on for third at 14-1. 'He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well,' said O'Brien. 'Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride. 'Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way. 'He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine. 'We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen.'
Irish Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Derby result as Lambourn makes history for Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn extended the trainer's impressive record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, becoming the 20th horse to follow up Epsom success at the Curragh with a hard-fought victory over stablemate Serious Contender. Lambourn, the 8-13 favourite to repeat his Epsom triumph, saw jockey Ryan Moore attempt to replicate Wayne Lordan's inspired front-running ride on the Surrey Downs. However, they faced stiff competition from Ralph Beckett's second-string Sir Dinadan who refused to let Lambourn have it all his own way. As they rounded the home turn, Moore urged the Epsom hero on and while Sir Dinadan's challenge began to fade, Ballydoyle stablemate and King George V Stakes runner-up Serious Contender, ridden by Gavin Ryan, emerged as a significant threat. The final furlong saw a duel between the Ballydoyle pair, but Lambourn proved his mettle for Moore, demonstrating his stamina and Classic quality to win by three-quarters of a length. This victory secures Lambourn a place in the history books alongside his sire Australia and grand-sire Galileo, who also achieved the English-Irish Derby double. Serious Contender finished second at 28-1, while Charlie Johnston's Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff managed to secure third place at 14-1. 'He's a very straightforward horse that gets the trip well,' said O'Brien. 'Ryan was going to be happy if someone came with him as that keeps him focused. He's a little bit laid-back, a little bit lazy and you could see up the straight he was waiting all the time but that's him. Ryan gave him a lovely ride. 'Ryan thought he would keep pulling out and he was pricking his ears all the way. 'He could be a King George horse, he could be an Arc horse. He gets the trip well and is very sound and very genuine. 'We minded the second horse for a handicap in Ascot that we thought he couldn't get beat and then a horse came and beat us that was entered in the King George so it just goes to show what can happen.'
