Race-fixing charge dropped after Fallon trial

Prosecutors have dropped a race-fixing charge against a trainer and his farrier following the collapse of the Kieren Fallon trial.

Trainer Alan Berry, 44, and blacksmith Steven O’Sullivan, 36, had denied trying to cheat by putting a horse in a race when she was lame or unfit.

Last year, they pleaded not guilty to a charge involving a filly named Hillside Girl who was entered for a race at Carlisle on June 15, 2003.

They were accused of conspiring to defraud the users of the Betfair internet betting exchange and other punters by entering the horse in the race, agreeing not to disclose it lame or unfit and laying bets on it to lose.

Berry, of Moss Side Racing Stables, Cockerham, Lancashire and O’Sullivan, of Valiants Farm, Lancaster Road, Preston, Lancashire, were remanded on unconditional bail to face trial next week.

But instead of a trial at the Old Bailey, they will be formally discharged because of a decision to offer no evidence against them.

The decision by the Crown Prosecution Service follows the collapse of a race-fixing trial against top jockey Kieren Fallon and five others, last month.

Police were criticised for their handling of the investigation.

The inquiry against Berry and O’Sullivan was conducted by the same force.

A CPS spokesman said: “Although the trials concerned different defendants and a different horse race, there were a number of elements common to both, as they emerged from the same investigation.

“It is important that the CPS keeps all cases under review, particularly where there has been an unsuccessful trial on a linked matter.

“After careful review, it has been concluded that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction for either Mr Berry or Mr O’Sullivan.

“All parties have been formally notified of the decision.”