EDDIE AHERN on Thursday strenuously denied the race-fixing accusations made against him and vowed to "vigorously defend" himself against the BHA charges.
The jockey has been charged alongside former professional footballer Neil Clement and four others in the latest BHA investigation into corrupt practices in the sport between September 2010 and March 2011.
Ahern and Clement were charged with conspiracy to commit fraudulent practice in relation to the laying of five horses ridden by the jockey, who was also accused of passing on information for reward and intentionally failing to ensure Judgethemoment ran on its merits when beaten at Lingfield in January 2011.
Sporting first-time blinkers, Judgethemoment was ridden from the front by Ahern in a 2m all-weather handicap at Lingfield before the former Royal Ascot winner weakened through the field to finish last.
The Racing Post comment read: "Led and soon spreadeagled field, came back from halfway, headed and weakened rapidly over 4f out."
In a statement released through his solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore, Ahern stressed his denial of failing to ride any of the horses involved in the investigation on their merits.
It read: "Mr Ahern strenuously denies the allegations against him, particularly that he would ride a horse in such a way that it would not run on its merits. He will vigorously defend himself against the charges."
Ahern, 34, was aboard five of the six horses in the BHA investigation which involved bets placed through betting exchanges, spread betting accounts and with fixed-odds bookmakers.
Assistant trainer James Clutterbuck, Martin Raymond, Michael Turl and Paul Hill were only charged in relation to the sixth horse under investigation, Stoneacre Gareth.
Ahern, a former champion apprentice in Ireland, was last month forced to cancel plans to ride in India during the winter after the BHA alerted the Bangalore Turf Club that he was suspected of a serious rule breach.
It would be hoped Eddie "vigorously defends" these charges with rather more effort than he put into the rides in question.
Sounds like you know the answer already MOTSIt would be hoped Eddie "vigorously defends" these charges with rather more effort than he put into the rides in question.
I think they will find it difficult to make the charge stick looking at the race itself - wore first time blinkers - went off quickly from the front - not an easy case to prove if that is all you have got .......
I think they will find it difficult to make the charge stick looking at the race itself - wore first time blinkers - went off quickly from the front - not an easy case to prove if that is all you have got .......
The horse in question has done much the same thing in all of it's last 12 starts. It was off Jan. to July 2011,ran the same way (dif jockey) and hasn't run since. Any Barrister who can read the form will make mincemeat of the allegation. As to providing inside information,that's another can of worms.
The horse in question has done much the same thing in all of it's last 12 starts.It was off Jan. to July 2011,ran the same way (dif jockey) and hasn't run since.Any Barrister who can read the form will make mincemeat of the allegation.As to providing
if anything like the other cases they will have communication between jockey before race with layers then some kind of reward for jockey at some point after
if anything like the other cases they will have communication between jockey before race with layers then some kind of reward for jockey at some point after