Horse racing is having to clear a lot of legal fences these days. Two weeks ago the Cheltenham Gold Cup winning rider Graham Bradley, County Down-born jockey and 1988 Epsom Derby winner Ray Cochrane, and former Lambourne trainer Charlie Brooks were arrested in connection with investigations into blood doping and race fixing.

This week Neal Wilkins, the Press Association's chief starting price reporter, arrested last July on suspicion of conspiracy to fraud, has been told by police that he will not face charges.

We are also told that Kim Bailey, the 45-year-old Grand National, Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winning trainer, will be making his first appearance in court since being accused of conspiring with former Thames Valley policemen Robert Harrington to burgle jockey Norman Williamson's house in 1995.

Notwithstanding the guilt or innocence of anyone concerned, the last month has not been a good one for racing.