Aspell exonerated

Josh Gifford has called for Leighton Aspell to be compensated for lost earnings after the jockey's release without further questioning from bail over investigations into race-fixing and doping.

Aspell, Jamie Osborne and Dean Gallagher were arrested on January 27th and released on police bail, without charge, in connection with investigations into the doping of Avanti Express and Lively Knight in races last year, and race-fixing allegations.

The jockey, who with Osborne and Gallagher had been due to attend Charing Cross Police Station next Wednesday, was informed by a letter from the Metropolitan Police Organised Crime Group.

Aspell, who rode the Gifford-trained Lively Knight when he was beaten at odds of 1 to 7 at Plumpton last March, has consistently denied any knowledge of the affair.

And Gifford, who has consistently given his jockey public support, criticised the Jockey Club while calling for Aspell to be given redress.

Speaking at Fontwell yesterday, the Findon trainer said: "I am thrilled to bits. This has been badly handled by the Jockey Club.

"I hope Leighton is given a big apology and I hope he gets compensation. You can't imagine what that poor boy's been through.

"I never believed it from the very first, and I am sure the police didn't. They had to act after the Jockey Club initiated the whole thing.

"The fact that he has been exonerated is wonderful, but it should not have happened in the first place. This has been a very trying time for Leighton and it is to his credit that he has come through it as well as he has."

Aspell revealed yesterday: "I got word last night after several requests from my solicitor to the police to find out what was going on. They eventually got in touch with him to say that all inquiries into my involvement had been dropped.

"It's a weight off my mind. You do feel that people have been watching you more than before but there was never any doubt in my mind that this day would come. I am annoyed that it has taken this long but I am glad it has happened.

"I have made several requests for compensation and they have each been turned down. But I will speak to my legal adviser and hopefully take it from there.

"I knew that I would be proved innocent in the long run, but the whole investigation has been very worrying for me and my family.

"I hope that this is an end to the whole matter as far as I am concerned and that Jamie and Dean will be released soon.

"I would like to thank my family and friends, not forgetting of course, Mr Gifford, other trainers and the many owners who have been very loyal and supportive."

The Michael Hourigan-trained Tell The Nipper was the subject of a gamble for tomorrow's Whitbread Gold Cup yesterday, with both Coral and William Hill reporting support for the seven-year-old. Coral trimmed the bay from 16 to 1 to 12 to 1, while Hill's now offer 11 to 1, having gone 14 to 1 at the start of trading.

Some decent performers line up for the Chrysalis Group 30th Anniversary Mile at Sandown today. And it could pay to side with Crimson Tide to solve the puzzle posed by this £50,000added Group Two event. The John Hills-trained four-year-old really came to himself last autumn after some disappointing efforts.