DETECTIVES investigating allegations of horse race fixing say more arrests are likely.

Twenty-seven people, including two trainers and six jockeys, have been arrested and bailed by City of London Police.

The force is investigating allegations of fixing involving more than 80 races over the past two years. Officers are analysing more than 1,000 exhibits, including 59 phones and several computers.

Yesterday, officers announced that the bail of all those arrested has been extended to the end of the summer because of the increasing scale of the investigation and the likelihood of further arrests. They now have to answer their bail during October.

Among those arrested are former champion jockey Kieren Fallon, North Yorkshire-based jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, and trainer Karl Burke, based in Middleham, North Yorkshire.

York jockey Robert Winston was arrested and bailed last month, and jockey Gyles Parkin, from Malton, North Yorkshire, was arrested and bailed this week.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilmott, the officer in charge of the operation, said: "This is the largest inquiry of this type this country has ever seen.

"An investigation of this magnitude takes time and expertise to complete effectively, and we continue to commit significant resources to ensure that this is achieved.

"Everyone concerned has been contacted by letter and had their bail periods extended to accommodate this investigation."

A police spokesman said: "The City of London Police is the lead force for economic crime investigations and has a great deal of experience in dealing with inquiries of this size.

"We know that fraud cases take a long time to investigate properly, and we need the time to ensure that all information is examined and considered within the scope of the inquiry."