A FORMER racehorse trainer and a top jockey have pledged to battle corruption charges relating to 57 races.

The British Horseracing Authority has alleged North Yorkshire-based jockey Richie McGrath and former Middleham trainer Kate Walton used inside information on the likely performance of horses for betting purposes in races from October 2009 to April 2012.

It is also alleged Mr McGrath, who has ridden for Malton trainer Tim Easterby and Middleham trainer Andrew Crook, agreed, if necessary, not to ride a horse to its potential to stop it from winning or being placed in a race.

Five others, Mark Aspey, Carl Flint, David Stevens, Kristian Robson and David Greenwood, have also been charged with breaching betting rules by placing lay bets on Rumble Of Thunder, who is now trained at Middleham by Phil Kirby, who took on Walton's yard two years ago.

They are alleged to have bet Rumble of Thunder would lose, when they were prohibited from doing so due to their involvement in the racing industry.

Mrs Walton is also accused of assisting, encouraging or causing people prohibited from laying bets to place lay bets on Rumble Of Thunder.

Mr McGrath secured £22,804 prize money for Mrs Walton in 2009 by winning John Smith's Champion Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Mrs Walton's daughter, Nicky, is office manager for Mark Johnson Racing, in Middleham, and married Scottish Grand National-winning jockey McGrath in 2006.

Mr McGrath's solicitor Andrew Chalk said: "Richie is shocked and bitterly disappointed to be facing charges, but vigorously maintains his innocence and intends to fight to clear his name."

Rory Mac Niece, Mrs Walton’s solicitor, said: “The BHA has publicised the fact of charges without first providing Kate with sight of any of the evidence on which it is based.

“There’s no good reason for that and puts Kate at a significant disadvantage.

"Kate was interviewed two years ago and there is no good reason why the BHA should have taken the step of announcing charges whilst making the decision not to allow Kate sight of the evidence.

“We understand the evidence is not going to be produced by the BHA until, at the earliest, September 22.

"The BHA has the evidence but has decided not to give it to Kate until a time convenient to them and has not explained why.”

The authority has scheduled a hearing for November 11, and if found guilty, the accused face bans of between six months and ten years.