Jockey club public relations officer John Maxse yesterday confirmed that the police were already looking into alleged racefixing before the doping of two short-priced jumpers in March of last year.

It had been thought that it was the defeats of Avanti Express and Lively Knight - who both failed subsequent drug tests - last spring which sparked off the longrunning investigation.

Three jockeys were among 11 men arrested this year in connection with the affair. Leighton Aspell has since been cleared but Jamie Osborne and Dean Gallagher must answer bail today. "I can confirm that the Jockey Club first went to the police in February, 1997," said Maxse, who would not comment on the nature of the initial investigation.

Osborne and Gallagher must report to Charing Cross police station today, having had their bail extended back in June. They have both stressed their innocence ever since their arrest in dawn raids in January.

Having initially been suspended by the Jockey Club, the jockeys were all handed back their licences.

Silken Dalliance's controversial win at Ascot last month is to be the subject of an official inquiry under the "non-triers"' rule, it was announced yesterday.

The Jockey Club disciplinary committee will look into the case of the filly, whose victory in the valuable Mail On Sunday Mile Final attracted comment as just eight days earlier she had finished well beaten at Newbury.