Iconic Royal Ascot jockey who rode five winners charged by police

Jockey Oisin Murphy has been charged following a road traffic accident he was involved in earlier this year.

Thames Valley Police released a statement on Thursday, stating: "A man has been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire.

"Last Thursday (19/6) Oisin Murphy, aged 29, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was charged by postal requisition with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and one count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside.

"The charge is in connection with a single vehicle road traffic collision around 12.05am on Sunday 27 April this year when a grey Mercedes A Class left the road and crashed into a tree. Murphy is due to appear at Reading Magistrates' Court on 3 July. It is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media as this is a live investigation."

Murphy was arrested and subsequently released on police bail after a car collided with a tree in April. The day before the incident, he had ridden three winners at Leicester but missed his rides at Southwell on the day of the accident due to 'travel issues', as per the stewards' report. Murphy then returned to the saddle at Windsor on the Monday.

Thames Valley Police launched an appeal for witnesses to 'a serious injury road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire'.

A statement released read: "At around 12.05am on Sunday (27/4), on Marlston Road, a single vehicle, a grey Mercedes A Class, crashed into a tree. Both occupants of the vehicle required medical attention, with a woman aged in her twenties taken to hospital with serious injuries, where she remains at this time.

"A 29-year-old man from Hungerford, has been arrested for causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He has been released on police bail."

PC Ian Baldwin, of the Roads Policing Unit, urged: "I am appealing for witnesses to this collision. If you saw anything or have dash-cam footage of the collision or the moments leading up to it, please get in touch.

"You can upload any digital evidence to our dedicated online portal. Anyone with information can call 101 or make an online report, via our website, quoting crime reference number 43250203883. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

On the racing front, jockey Murphy has enjoyed an outstanding start to 2025, riding 86 winners thus far and he tops the jockeys' championship. His form was particularly impressive last week at Royal Ascot, where he claimed five winning rides. Murphy was not booked for any rides on Thursday but is scheduled to ride at Doncaster on Friday and York on Saturday.