Racing took two giant strides towards clearing its name amid the long-running investigation into horse doping and race-fixing when jockeys Dean Gallagher and Ray Cochrane were released without charge from Charing Cross police station yesterday.

But Graham Bradley who was re-bailed to return to Charing Cross next month, remains on police files, along with former trainer Charlie Brooks, currently in South Africa, who must answer bail on March 24th.

The news was not so good for the other five men due to answer bail today: each learned that he is charged with conspiracy to defraud bookmakers and others.

Fellow jockey Jamie Osborne, who was arrested on January 27th, 1998 along with Gallagher but cleared nine months later, was pleased to hear that his weighing room colleague had been released without charge.

He said: "I'm delighted for Dean. He was arrested on the same day as me and I know how difficult it was for me and it has been quite difficult for Dean.

"It must be a huge weight off his shoulders. I am very pleased that, quite rightly, he has been cleared."

Gallagher's solicitor, Douglas Fordham said of his client: "He is going to make a statement later today or tomorrow morning when it has all sunk in. It has been a long investigation but like everybody else he's just relieved it's finally over."

Bradley, who spent 55 minutes in Charing Cross police station yesterday morning before being told that he was to be re-bailed, welcomed the news of his weighing-room colleagues' exoneration.

"The police have asked me not to say anything but I am very pleased - delighted. That is marvellous news."