By:
Joe Lyons
Classic-winning jockey Oisin Murphy has been charged with drink driving and failure to provide a roadside breath sample following a car crash in April.
Thames Valley Police announced on Thursday afternoon Murphy has been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire.
The 29-year-old crashed his grey Mercedes-Benz A-Class into a tree just after midnight on Sunday, April 27 which left a woman in hospital with severe injuries.
Murphy was arrested and later released on police bail. The incident occurred shortly after he rode a three-timer at Leicester on Saturday and he missed a book of rides at Southwell the day after.
A steward’s report from the British Horseracing Authority claimed that Murphy was absent due to ‘travel issues’ before returning to the saddle at Windsor on Monday.
The Irishman is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on July 3.
Before markets were suspended, Murphy was the 1/8 favourite to win the UK flat jockeys’ championship this season with the top betting sites in Ireland.
BREAKING: Oisin Murphy has been charged with drink driving and failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside after a road traffic collision in April pic.twitter.com/YNOEQ7V7Hc
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 26, 2025
Murphy is no stranger to the headlines, making his first appearance due to controversial circumstances in June 2019 after testing positive for alcohol in a breath test which forced him to miss a day’s racing at Salisbury.
In November 2020, Murphy was slapped with a three-month ban for a positive cocaine test at a meeting in France earlier that July.
The jockey argued to France Galop, France’s governing body for racing, that he had never taken the drug but instead tested positive due to contamination after having sexual intercourse the day before with a woman who was an occasional user.
After returning from suspension, Murphy was stood down when failing another pre-race breath test at Newmarket in October 2021 following an evening of drinks in a pub.
In December 2023, Murphy was banned for 14 months and fined over £30,000 for breaching a string of rules such as breaking COVID-19 protocols and positive alcohol tests.
He didn’t contest any of the charges and later admitted his alcohol problem was under control after seeking professional help.
Last August, Murphy was reported to the BHA head office after he missed providing a breath sample. He later revealed he had given up his five rides at Kempton that day due to having haemorrhoids.
The 29-year-old from Killarney is a four-time British Champion Jockey, having won titles in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024.
He has won two British Classics aboard Kameko in the 2020 2,000 Guineas and Mawj in the 2023 1,000 Guineas.
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