Williams insists: I've done nothing wrong

Jockey Darren Williams today broke his silence over his arrest and subsequent release on bail on Wednesday as part of a police investigation into alleged race-fixing.

Williams, as well as fellow riders Kieren Fallon and Fergal Lynch and trainer Karl Burke, was questioned by police after a series of dawn raids in which 16 people were arrested.

All were bailed to appear at a police station in two months’ time.

The 22-year-old rider, who is attached to Burke’s stables at Middleham, North Yorkshire, would not comment on the situation when he returned to action at Carlisle yesterday.

But in a statement issued by his solicitors Withy King, he said today: “My arrest on Wednesday morning was a real bolt from the blue. I have not done anything wrong.

“I co-operated fully with the police when interviewed by them and, as far as I am concerned, I am simply assisting them with their enquiries.

“During the course of my interview, which only lasted 20 minutes, I was asked about my relationship with one individual. I was not asked any questions at all about specific races or specific horses.

“I have not done anything wrong and I am confident I will eventually be released from the investigation.”

Williams’ solicitor Andrew Chalk expressed his confidence that the jockey will be completely cleared.

He added: “To put things in context, the questions asked of Darren do not even suggest that there has been a breach of the Rules of Racing, let alone the commission of any criminal offence.

“We are therefore confident that Darren will be exonerated at the end of the day.”