Celebrated jockey Oisin Murphy has opened up about the most terrifying moment of his career—a hurdle race at Wincanton that tested his nerves like never before.
Speaking on Talksport with presenter Alan Brazil, the 30-year-old rider shared his experience on the same day his new book, Sacrifice: A Year in the Life of a Champion Jockey, was released. Murphy, aiming for a fifth title at Ascot on October 18, recounted his challenging leap into National Hunt racing.
Although Murphy made his professional debut in Britain in 2013 and clinched the champion apprentice title in 2014, flat racing has always been his forte. His attempt to conquer the hurdles, however, aboard Neil Mulholland’s horse Ike Sport at Somerset’s Wincanton, proved daunting enough to dampen any future ambitions over jumps.
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“I rode in a hurdle race last year at Wincanton, and honestly, it was the scariest five minutes of my entire life,” Murphy confessed. In that race, he competed against seasoned jump jockeys, including Richie McLernon and Sean Houlihan. He deliberately kept Ike Sport towards the back of the field and pulled the horse up after the third last flight in a 13-fence race.
Murphy expressed deep respect for jump racing professionals like Harry Cobden and praised the Cheltenham Festival as one of the greatest sporting events. As the nephew of Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winner Jim Culloty, Murphy’s insight holds a special resonance.
While Murphy’s success has mostly been on the flat, he has also excelled in showjumping, finishing second in the 2021 Hickstead Hy Equestrian British 1.10m Amateur Championship aboard Tiger.
However, his career has faced off-track challenges. In 2022, racing authorities suspended Murphy due to breaches of Covid-19 regulations and issues involving failed breath tests and misleading the British Horseracing Authority. More recently, he received a 20-month driving ban and a £70,000 fine after a road accident in July where he was over the legal alcohol limit, leading to stringent conditions on his racing licence.
Currently leading the jockeys’ championship with 138 winners, Murphy is set to receive his trophy at QIPCO British Champions Day. Despite his success, he acknowledges the pressure to consistently perform at the highest level. In his book, ghostwritten by James Hogg, he reveals the mental battles faced behind the scenes.
“From the outside, it may all look fantastic, but the days are long and staying motivated—especially during tough times—is a struggle,” Murphy admitted. “When I don’t perform well, I carry the burden knowing people have bet hard-earned money on my rides. Those rides home can be really bleak.”
He shared how the book chronicles his emotional highs and lows leading up to Royal Ascot. Being open and honest in his voice notes to the author, he wanted readers to see the real side of a champion jockey’s life.
“I take riding horses very seriously—perhaps too seriously at times. Ultimately, this is just horses galloping around a field, and while there are worse things happening in the world, living and breathing this sport makes it hard to put things into perspective,” Murphy concluded.