Racing: Cochrane cleared

RAY COCHRANE left the Jockey Club's headquarters in London last night a relieved man after racing's rulers cleared him of any wrongdoing over his riding at Lingfield back in May.

Cochrane was charged with two offences over his riding of Keld, trained by James Fanshawe, in a claiming race at the track on 7 May. The charges were that Cochrane had failed to give Keld every chance of obtaining the best placing and that he had acted in a manner prejudicial to racing's integrity.

But, six months after the race and after a hearing lasting more than eight hours, the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee found that the rider had not broken any rules.

The matter was investigated after the spread-betting firms Sporting Index and City Index reported unusual betting patterns on the race.

Keld was an uneasy favourite, drifting from 5-4 to 2-1, and finished fifth of seven after Cochrane elected to race alone on the far side of the track.