Kieren Fallon was keeping quiet at Salisbury this afternoon as the media circus paid a visit to the track in the wake of his arrest in connection with a race-fixing investigation.
Champion jockey Kieren Fallon was back in action today along with fellow riders Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, plus trainer Karl Burke, after their shock arrests and subsequent bailing as part of an investigation into alleged race-fixing.
But the licences of all four could be subject to review in the future following a special meeting convened by the Jockey Club to discuss the case.
They will be allowed to continue riding and in Burke's case training, but their eligibility could come under scrutiny as the investigation proceeds.
A Jockey Club statement read: "A special meeting of the Jockey Club's regulatory board, chaired by the senior steward, Julian Richmond-Watson, was held today to receive briefings and to consider any necessary action, following the arrests yesterday of 16 individuals, including four licence-holders.
"As a result, the licensing committee has written to the three jockeys and one trainer. The correspondence confirms to the four individuals that the licensing committee has concluded that based on the circumstances, the mere fact of their arrest does not justify suspension of their licence.
"However, the letter makes the point that the licensing committee reserves the right to review their licence depending on any developments relating to their arrest and the police investigation."
Burke and Williams went back to work and faced the media at Carlisle, where the television companies were out in force, with crews from Border TV, Look North and Sky all present to see the pair team up with Chiselled in the opening Sands Maiden Auction Stakes.
But the 3-1 favourite could manage only second place for the in-the-news duo.
Looking tense, Williams was escorted to the paddock by two security men. He did not want to say anything and referred press inquiries to solicitor Andrew Chalk of Withy King, the firm representing both himself and fellow rider Fergal Lynch.
However, Burke was keen to stress that he was not guilty of any wrong-doing.
He said: "I've done nothing wrong, categorically nothing wrong. I've been questioned about a number of people, a list of about 20 people. Did I know them? What was my association with them?
"About five people on the list I knew. The rest I didn't have a clue who they were. The five I won't name, but they are the obvious ones. We used to train for two of the people who were on the list. I no longer train for them.
"I can only sit and wait and go through the process. I haven't been charged with anything. I've got to appear back on November 2nd and hopefully that will conclude the matter."
Burke and Williams were two of 16 people, including Lynch and Fallon, detained yesterday after a dawn swoop co-ordinated by City Of London police on 19 addresses in Suffolk, Hertfordshire, and North and South Yorkshire.
Everyone arrested was later released on police bail. They will appear at a London police station on November 2nd.
Burke, 41, had not been at his stables at Spigot Lodge on the edge of Middleham Moor in North Yorkshire when the police arrived at 5am yesterday.
"It wasn't a very nice experience, but it was worse for my family. I wasn't at home," he continued. "It was my 20th wedding anniversary yesterday so I'd already planned a surprise meal for my wife (Elaine). We went to Ripon races and then on to the Crab And Lobster at Thirsk and stayed there, and then I was due to go to York yesterday.
"I always call in at 7.15am when I'm away from home and things were well under way by then. My eldest daughter, Kelly, took the brunt of it, but she coped very well. They said they had a warrant to search the house. They've taken both computers, phone book and mobile phone."
With much of the investigation surrounding betting patterns, the Jockey Club has liaised throughout with the principal exchange firm, Betfair.
"I said to them (the police) I've never even looked at Betfair on the website. I've never been into that," Burke added. "I've nothing to hide and I'll help the police as much as I can."
Williams finished unplaced on his three other rides on the card, Kaggamagic (Border Construction Nursery), Pharoah's Gold (Carlisle Glass Handicap) and Saddler's Quest (Battle Holme Handicap).
Williams, 22, has ridden 158 career winners, including 43 so far this season.
Thirsk trainer Bryan Smart has backed stable jockey Lynch, giving the rider his unequivocal support.
"Fergal has done nothing wrong for me, so why shouldn't he still be riding for me? They have not been found guilty of anything and I am very happy to have him as my stable jockey," he said.
Lynch initially had only one booked ride at Redcar this afternoon, on Obe One for Alan Berry, while Smart had different jockeys booked for two of his runners at the track.
However, Smart jocked off Tom Eaves on Caitlin and Robert Winston on Vademecum to give the rides back to Lynch.
Smart explained: "Yesterday morning I didn't know how long Fergal was going to be held up, so it was more sensible for me to book two jockeys in case Fergal could not take the rides. I was able to put him back on if he was available, and that's what I have done."
Lynch repaid that faith by winning the Cray Fish Nursery on 12-1 shot Caitlin, but the jockey would not comment on his arrest or the investigation.
Fallon, in action at Salisbury, was also winnerless.