'It was a nightmare' - Oisin Murphy breaks silence in first interview since pleading guilty to driving over the alcohol limit

Oisin Murphy has broken his silence in a first interview since he appeared in court to plead guilty to driving over the limit for alcohol, with the champion jockey describing his car crash and subsequent police action as "a nightmare for everyone involved".

Murphy was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after his case was heard at Reading Magistrates' Court this month, where details released in the case revealed he had a single-vehicle accident in April when the car he was driving left the road and collided with a tree. 

The BHA announced on Friday "an extremely strict set of conditions" had been attached to Murphy's riding licence and were effective immediately. Though licensing matters are often private and confidential, the BHA added the conditions must be adhered to at all times by the four-time champion jockey and they included "detailed and strict procedures relating to further enhanced testing, both on and off the racecourse".

Murphy released a statement after pleading guilty when he said there was "no excuse for what I did", but had not spoken publicly until Monday night's meeting at Windsor. 

Oisin Murphy: pleaded guilty to driving over the limit for alcoholCredit: PA Images

Following his winner on the John and Thady Gosden-trained Competizione, Murphy reflected on recent months and said he wanted to repay the BHA for its support.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Murphy said: "It's very important not to make that error again. It was a nightmare, particularly for everyone involved, not just myself, but the people who had to pick up the pieces and my support network. Time is a great healer but I won't be forgetting about that mistake.

"They [the BHA] never disclose licence information. I'm not the first jockey to drink and drive or commit offences. It's obviously more high profile because of the profile I have. Those incidences should never occur, but the BHA has been fantastic to work with and I really appreciate what they've done to help me. I want to repay them."

Murphy, who leads the jockeys' championship, continued to ride following the accident in April and up until his court date. It was a period that included one of the sport's biggest meetings in Royal Ascot, where he had five winners.

In his first interview since the case, Murphy discussed the counselling he had been undertaking both before and since the accident and added the female passenger who had been involved in the car crash was "really well".

Murphy continued to ride plenty of big winners last monthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He was also critical of his treatment in the media.

"I have been [in counselling] for the last four years," Murphy said. "I had very good spells due to that support network and I've relied on it an awful lot since late April and before. I've got to thank those people because they've gone above and beyond when that process hasn't been very easy.

"There was going to be a lot said in the media and it's important not to allow the media to bully you too much because you can get very down, but I had horses to ride and a job to do. It's great to be riding every day and hopefully to the same level I was able to do at Royal Ascot and in the weeks previously.

"Not everyone wants one to achieve, there's a lot of jealousy out there, particularly in the media, but I worked all my life to ride good horses and I'll continue to do that. The only thing that can inhibit me from not progressing further in my career is myself."

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