Jockey Ahern left ‘devastated’ by 10-year ban for corruption charges

Ahern has been suspended for 10 years – effectively ending his successful career – for passing on information for reward, and deliberately riding a horse to lose, while Clement’s betting activities have seen him barred from racing for 15 years.

Two of the most severe penalties ever passed by the British Horseracing Authority, the timing of the case’s conclusion could not have come at a worse time.

On Monday, the 2012 St Leger winner Encke became the latest high-profile horse to become caught up in the doping scandal to envelop Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation while Frankie Dettori’s comeback from a six-month ban for cocaine use is still mired in confusion.

Ahern, who won last year’s Doncaster Cup on John Dunlop’s Times Up, was found guilty of laying five horses to lose between September 2010 and February 2011. The 35-year-old was also convicted of intentionally failing to ensure Judgethemoment was ridden on its merits at Lingfield in January, 2011, and of passing on information for reward.

Judgethemoment, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, finished last of seven runners in a two-mile handicap after being well clear at halfway. Ahern claimed that he misjudged the pace but a BHA disciplinary panel said it “could not accept” that such an experienced jockey “could have made an error of such an extent”.

Clement, who had a brief spell on loan at Hull City in 2008 from parent club West Bromwich Albion, was also found guilty of charges relating to the five races Ahern rode in, and also the laying of Hindu Kush, which he then owned, when that horse finished last at Kempton in February 2011.

With regard to the retired footballer, the BHA was damning after revealing that Clement risked up to £41,500 in order to win £8,500 if Judgethemoment lost.

It said: “The sheer size of the bets indicated a confidence in the outcome that is seen to have been justified by what happened... the panel was left in no doubt that Mr Clement knew that the gelding would be ridden to lose.”

Ahern missed his intended rides at Kempton last night and his solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said his client intends to appeal both the BHA disciplinary panel’s findings and the severity of the ban. Stewart-Moore said: “Eddie Ahern is absolutely devastated by the BHA Panel’s findings.”

Meanwhile Dettori’s legal representative hopes the BHA licensing committee will meet to hasten the rider’s return to action.

Racing’s showman was due to return at Leicester on Monday, but France Galop – which imposed the drugs ban – has still not sanctioned the renewal of the jockey’s riding licence.

Time is running out for Dettori to prove his race sharpness ahead of the Epsom Derby on June 1 when he is due to ride one of Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s top contenders.