Oisin Murphy gains notable win day before court case

Oisin Murphy broke new ground at Thirsk on Wednesday ahead of his scheduled appearance at Reading Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The four-time champion jockey had never previously ridden a winner at the Yorkshire track but put that right by guiding Wolfpack to victory in the second division of the Racing TV Club EBF Novice Stakes over a mile.

Wolfpack hung to his right in the closing stages but the James Ferguson-trained chestnut, a son of Kameko owned by Qatar Racing, stayed on strongly to lose his maiden status at the third attempt.

Earlier, Murphy had earlier been out of luck when finishing fourth aboard Artf’s Duchess in the first division of the race. He has two more rides on the card.

Murphy will be a notable absentee from Britain’s four Flat meetings on Thursday as he will be appearing at Reading Magistrates Court after being charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed level of alcohol and one count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside after a collision in the early minutes of Sunday April 27.

The 29-year-old is scheduled to have a first hearing at 2pm.

Murphy has continued to ride since being arrested on April 27.

He has chalked up 61 winners since that time, from 245 rides, and established a clear lead in the Jockeys’ Championship as he seeks to secure a fifth title.

Overall, Murphy has had 1,681 winners in Britain from more than 9,700 rides. He won the Jockeys’ title three years in succession between 2019-2021, and again last year.