Latest news with #AndrewBalding
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy wins at Doncaster just a DAY after being charged with drink driving after 'serious road traffic collision' left a woman in hospital
Oisin Murphy was among the winners at Doncaster on Friday, with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirming the multiple champion jockey can continue to ride ahead of his court date next week. Murphy was charged on Thursday with two drink-driving offences following a car crash on April 27 which left a woman in her 20s in hospital with serious injuries. It is alleged that he was over the prescribed alcohol limit and failed to cooperate when asked to give a preliminary test at the scene. There has been little disruption to Murphy's schedule since he was arrested at the scene in Hermitage, Berkshire where a grey Mercedes A Class smashed into a tree just after midnight. The next day, he rode in five races at Windsor, picking up two wins and, last week, he had five winners at Royal Ascot. Given he is the reigning champion jockey — a title he has won four times since 2019 — Murphy is much in demand and his wins in the last two months have been for figures including Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Owen, Lady Lloyd-Webber and leading bloodstock operations Cheveley Park and Juddmonte. On Friday, the BHA said there was nothing to prevent Murphy continuing to ride on an ongoing basis and he travelled to Doncaster for five mounts, winning the Doncaster Racecourse Supporting Racing Staff Week Handicap aboard the Andrew Balding-trained 8-13 favourite Displaying. The four-time champion is due to be in action at York on Saturday where his six booked mounts include Formal in the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes. Murphy, who leads the 2025 jockeys' championship by 17 from nearest rival William Buick, is due to appear at Reading Magistrates' Court on July 3. Murphy has not responded to requests for comment about the car crash since his arrest. Thames Valley Police said in a statement that: 'It is vital people do not speculate on social media as this is a live investigation.'
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
How many chances does Oisin Murphy need? The drink driving charge is the latest bleak chapter in a disheartening story
HOW many chances does Oisin Murphy need? Of course, I must caveat this entire column by saying he has not been found guilty, or admitted guilt, to the Thames Valley Police charges of drink driving and failing to provide a roadside breath test. 1 He will appear in court next week, and if he does plead guilty he will lose his drivers' licence and could, in theory, face more serious punishment. We will have to wait and see how it plays out. But his career has been chequered, to say the least. Let's first consider the positives — Murphy is a tremendous talent. He was one of those jockeys who always looked destined for the top while he was an apprentice, and he shot to prominence with a four-timer on Ayr Gold Cup day as an 18-year-old. He was given the opportunities and took them, ending up as stable No1 to Andrew Balding and as retained jock for Qatar Racing. Murphy, 29, is aware of his obligations as one of our leading jockeys to engage with the public, and he does it very well on social media. His ability was on full show at Royal Ascot, when he rode five winners and was especially lethal over the straight track. But it was during the Royal meeting that a letter dropped onto his doormat from the Crown Prosecution Service saying they were charging him, and so began the latest bleak chapter of one of racing's most disheartening storylines. It is quite clear there is another — how can I put it — less polished side to Murphy than the one you see in public. I've experienced it first hand over the years. Of course it is sad to see a person struggle with an addiction to alcohol — I know what it's like to battle addiction — but if it transpires he had been drinking and got behind the wheel of a car, it's hard to comprehend. Murphy needs help as he quite clearly isn't ready to help himself. He has the world at his feet, but it appears he can't stop pushing the self-destruct button. And too many people around him have covered for him and brushed his issues under the carpet. And they keep surfacing again and again. First, he was banned for three months in 2020 for testing positive for cocaine. He said he was contaminated after having sex with a girl who had taken the drug, so he was given a lenient sentence. Then issues with the bottle began to surface. He failed multiple breath tests and — as exclusively revealed in Sunracing on 2021 Qipco Champions' Day — was involved in an ugly scrap outside a boozer in Newmarket. This was after he had completely disregarded Covid-19 regulations to travel to Mykonos, Greece, in the September of 2020, which, at that time, was on the government's 'red list'. He lied to the BHA about where he had been, returned to the UK and went straight back into the weighing room without isolating himself, potentially putting his colleagues at risk of infection. He was banned for 14 months, during which time he did a lot of media work and spoke about his problems with drink, how he had started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and would never touch the stuff again. So when he was re-granted his licence, the BHA attached strict conditions, including increased breath testing and a requirement for Murphy 'to remain sober'. After all, it was not that long ago that Graham Gibbons was blamed for a pile-up at Kempton which left Freddie Tylicki in a wheelchair, and in court it was alleged his breath smelled of alcohol on the day. In racing, riding while even slightly impaired is incredibly dangerous. More recently, eyebrows were raised when Murphy failed to turn up at Kempton Park for scheduled alcohol breath testing because, allegedly, he was suffering from especially painful haemorrhoids which required A&E attention. He was back in the saddle shortly after and, as far as I'm aware, the old Chalfont St Giles haven't bothered him to the same extent before or since the missed test. And now he has been involved in a car crash while allegedly over the limit with a passenger in the car — there has been a theme of apparent disregard for the safety of others which is unacceptable. Is it just 'demons'? Or, which is an uncomfortable question to pose, does he just not care? If he is found or pleads guilty on Thursday, the BHA will have no option but to immediately suspend his riding licence in my view. Every time Murphy has done something wrong, his actions have been excused one way or another. How many more chances does he need?
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Oisin Murphy to ride one or more winners at Windsor today is a BOOSTED 2/1 according to Sky Bet
Sky Bet are offering a Price Boost for today's horse racing action - as Windsor plays host to an eight-race card. Enhanced from 6/4 to 2/1 - the boost requires Oisin Murphy to ride two or more winners. Murphy is booked for four rides today - with one being the favourite and a further three thoroughbreds entering their fixtures as second-favourites. The favourite Murphy is onboard is the Andrew Balding-trained Jet Black in Race 7 at 20:30. Jet Black - who reigned supreme in her last start at Redcar - is a 13/8 favourite with Sky Bet to finish first past the post. Meanwhile, if you're anticipating the filly to be dominant en route to a victory - there are enhanced odds of 6/1 for Jet Black to win by two or more lengths. Oisin Murphy to ride one or more winners WAS 6/4 NOW 2/1
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Humidity too much for Chesham rivals
Trained by Andrew Balding, he was an impressive winner in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud over six furlongs at Newbury on debut, but transferred to the ownership of Wathnan Racing ahead of stepping up to seven furlongs for this Listed event. Humidity (4-1) was quickly away and never passed by his rivals, showing great resolve when challenged late in the day to replicate his brother Holloway Boy, who won this contest on debut at the 2022 Royal meeting. Balding said: 'I am so pleased and at the beginning of the week we felt this horse was probably our strongest chance. 'He's a lovely horse who had to battle hard today, and he's done nothing wrong. I would hope he would stay further, but he's not short of speed either. This was always the plan but we will now work back from something nice in the autumn. 'He's so laid back. I'm a big fan of Ulysses – I think he's an under-rated stallion, so this is good for him and we've got a couple of other nice horses by him, but he (Humidity) is an absolute dude, very relaxed. 'I think he could be a Guineas horse. He's not short of speed and he's got a lovely long stride, so he's got a bright future.' Coral make Humidity a 14-1 shot for next year's 2000 Guineas. Thesecretadversary followed Humidity home a length adrift at 12-1, with trainer Fozzy Stack predicting a bright future for the son of St Mark's Basilica. 'He ran a great race. It's annoying we didn't get there, but he ran a great race,' said Stack. 'He's been very straightforward, he's always looked a bit above average from the minute we started doing a bit with him. 'I know he's quite colourful, but he's actually a very good model. Seamie (Heffernan, jockey) was delighted with him, he said he has the pace of a good horse, he feels he will mature in time. 'We have all the options, we can run back at a maiden, we can keep pitching in at a higher level, we will see.'
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Humidity too much for Chesham rivals
Trained by Andrew Balding, he was an impressive winner in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud over six furlongs at Newbury on debut, but transferred to the ownership of Wathnan Racing ahead of stepping up to seven furlongs for this Listed event. Humidity (4-1) was quickly away and never passed by his rivals, showing great resolve when challenged late in the day to replicate his brother Holloway Boy, who won this contest on debut at the 2022 Royal meeting. Balding said: 'I am so pleased and at the beginning of the week we felt this horse was probably our strongest chance. 'He's a lovely horse who had to battle hard today, and he's done nothing wrong. I would hope he would stay further, but he's not short of speed either. This was always the plan but we will now work back from something nice in the autumn. 'He's so laid back. I'm a big fan of Ulysses – I think he's an under-rated stallion, so this is good for him and we've got a couple of other nice horses by him, but he (Humidity) is an absolute dude, very relaxed. 'I think he could be a Guineas horse. He's not short of speed and he's got a lovely long stride, so he's got a bright future.' Coral make Humidity a 14-1 shot for next year's 2000 Guineas. Thesecretadversary followed Humidity home a length adrift at 12-1, with trainer Fozzy Stack predicting a bright future for the son of St Mark's Basilica. 'He ran a great race. It's annoying we didn't get there, but he ran a great race,' said Stack. 'He's been very straightforward, he's always looked a bit above average from the minute we started doing a bit with him. 'I know he's quite colourful, but he's actually a very good model. Seamie (Heffernan, jockey) was delighted with him, he said he has the pace of a good horse, he feels he will mature in time. 'We have all the options, we can run back at a maiden, we can keep pitching in at a higher level, we will see.'
