'A huge achievement' - Tom O'Brien hits 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland

Tom O'Brien reached a landmark total of 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland in battling fashion at Worcester on Sunday.

O'Brien was on board the Ian Williams-trained Head On for the first time in the 2m7f handicap chase with regular rider Robbie Dunne out injured.

The milestone looked unlikely as the five-year-old had to be rousted along by O'Brien in the back straight as they headed for home.

Despite being off the bridle for much of the closing circuit, though, the well-backed 7-2 chase debutant began to stay on up the long straight with O'Brien even having the luxury of dropping his whip before the final fence, eventually running out a cosy length-and-a-half winner from 100-30 favourite Hoot At Midnight.

Watch Tom O'Brien ride his 1,000th winner in Britain and Ireland

Williams was full of praise for the 34-year-old's tenacity on a difficult ride: "It was a typical performance of his. He's a little bit on and off the bridle, but he got to the front and I think he was the justification of a very good ride from Tom O'Brien. When he's riding like that it's not surprising he's ridden 1,000 winners in his career and I'm sure there's many more to come.

"With Charlie [Todd] and Robbie not riding, Tom's a go-to for us and I should think he's got a very good season ahead of him. I know he'll be absolutely delighted to have ridden 1,000 winners. It's a huge achievement, I don't think you can underestimate what it is for a jockey to reach that landmark. It's phenomenal and it's a fair reward for the work he's put in."

Echoing the thoughts of Williams, was four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson, who witnessed the work O'Brien put in first hand as number-two rider for Philip Hobbs.

Johnson said: "It's a huge achievement. If you look at the people who've done it, it speaks for itself. It's a very hard thing to do and it's not just about having one great season or big winners, it's a huge amount of effort over a long period of time."

Johnson, who is second behind Sir Anthony McCoy in the all-time list of winners for jump jockeys, added: "When you talk about people who have that number of winners it is about consistency and that's the thing with Tom. Even though he was second jockey at Philip's he was always riding a good number of winners for lots of different trainers.

Richard Johnson: 'It's a huge amount of effort over a long period of time'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"He works very hard and he rides for a big number of people and puts the miles in. Dave Roberts helped me and he's the man who keeps us all busy and that is the thing about getting to the thousand, it is about consistency over a period of time."

"I'm just thrilled for him and obviously he's got an exciting season ahead with Philip. I wish him huge congratulations for today and all the best for the rest of the season."

O'Brien most prolific season was in 2006-07 when he rode 105 winners in Britain, while in 2008 O'Brien rode his sole winner in Ireland aboard I Hear A Symphony, fittingly for Hobbs at the Punchestown festival.

O'Brien is one of only seven jumps jockeys currently active who have ridden 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland.

Tom O'Brien career details

TOP TEN CURRENT JUMP JOCKEYS

Wins Jockey First win GB Ireland

1,502 Davy Russell (1999) 122 1,380

1,393 Tom Scudamore (1998) 1,392 1

1,367 Brian Hughes (2005) 1,363 4

1,351 Paddy Brennan (2000) 1,348 3

1,196 Sam Twiston-Davies (2009) 1,193 3

1,147 Aidan Coleman (2007) 1,147 -

1,000 TOM O'BRIEN (2004) 999 1

987 Harry Skelton (2007) 985 2