Green light for Lynch in licence application

Fergal Lynch has been successful in his application to the British Horseracing Authority for a jockey's licence.

Lynch has not ridden since being charged as part of the City Of London police investigation into alleged race-fixing last year.

Lynch, along with weighing-room colleagues Kieren Fallon and Darren Williams and three others, was acquitted earlier in the month after the trial collapsed at the Old Bailey.

Paul Struthers, public relations manager at the BHA, said: "The Licensing Committee made it clear to Fergal Lynch that its role was not to consider any disciplinary matters that may or may not follow the City of London trial - they are matters for consideration by the Disciplinary Panel in due course, once the review of the evidence relating to the trial is complete.

"However, the Committee did need to consider whether Fergal Lynch was a suitable person to hold a licence, particularly when considered in the context of some of the admissions made in court by Fergal Lynch's Counsel.

"The Committee did question Fergal Lynch about these matters but, in light of the ongoing review of evidence being undertaken by the Legal Department, the time elapsed since the events raised in court took place, and having highlighted to Fergal Lynch the relevant Rules of Racing - including the new Inside Information rules - the Committee decided to grant Fergal Lynch a licence.

"This licence will be issued today (Tuesday) although we understand that Fergal Lynch does not intend to ride in this country for a couple of weeks."