Graham Bradley has all but ruled out a High Court challenge to the Jockey Club's decision to suspend his jockey's licence after he was charged with conspiracy to cheat last week.

Last Friday a three-steward panel at Portman Square ruled that it was inappropriate for Bradley to continue race-riding given the gravity of the charge against him, that he prevented Man Mood, the pulled-up 4 to 7 favourite, from winning the Oliver Cromwell Handicap Chase at Warwick on November 5th 1996, won by sole rival Drumstick.

Bradley, who will receive the equivalent of £29,000 per year income support from the Jockey Club's administration fund while he is suspended, had the option of fighting the decision in the High Court.

But the 38-year-old, bailed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates' Court on June 9th to answer the charge, has been deterred by the cost of such an action.

"It's very doubtful, because of the expense involved and the chances of winning in the High Court," Bradley said yesterday morning. Bradley, who was arrested on January 8th, was the first jockey or trainer to be charged as a result of the police investigation into horse-doping and race-fixing.

Jockeys Jamie Osborne, Dean Gallagher, Leighton Aspell and Ray Cochrane and Bradley's former boss, ex-trainer Charlie Brooks - trainer of Man Mood - were arrested by police during the course of their inquiries but all were released without charge.