Fergal O’Brien (born 19 August 1972) is an Irish Grade 1 winning National Hunt trainer based in Gloucestershire.

Although the family was not involved with horses (his father was a bus driver and his mother a cook), two of his brothers left Ireland for England to work in racing.

Having relinquished his ambition to be a jockey, he moved to the stables of Nigel Twiston-Davies at Naunton in Gloucestershire where he stayed for 19 years, becoming head lad and assistant trainer.

[1] In 2011 O’Brien set up as a trainer on his own account, at first at Cilldara Stud near Northleach, then back at Naunton, and then, since 2019, at Ravenswell Farm near Cheltenham.

[2] O'Brien achieved his first Grade 1 success in 2017 when Poetic Rhythm, ridden by Paddy Brennan, won the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury.

[9] With the retirement of Paddy Brennan in April 2024, the position of stable jockey was taken by Jonathan Burke, who had ridden Crambo to victory for O'Brien in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December 2023.