Racing: Jockeys' Association chief backs Bradley

Michael Caulfield, chief executive of the Jockeys' Association, has offered his unqualified support to the former jockey Graham Bradley, who had the first day of his appeal against an eight-year suspension from racing heard on Tuesday.

"I have known Graham for 14 years," Caulfield said, "and have been professionally involved in many of his cases that have been heard by the Jockey Club. Such is Graham's profile, his brushes with authority have attracted widespread attention and this sometimes presents a difficulty in distinguishing between fact and fiction.

"Even if the charge of selling privileged information is proven correct, the penalty of eight years is totally disproportionate when compared to cases where the penalties have been weeks or months, not years.

"It makes me wonder whether he has been penalised for what he is thought to have done, and whether the Panorama programme, and his association with an alleged criminal, have clouded judgements?

"Before the appeal is heard, ask yourself two questions. Would you be comfortable with writing off his new career as a bloodstock agent for eight years? And can Graham be a risk to the future integrity of racing bearing in mind all that has occurred in recent months and his desire to run a successful bloodstock agency?"