Jockey banned ten years for passing on insider info to ex-Premier League star to make comeback for ‘amazing’ trainer
A JOCKEY who was banned ten years for corruption is to make his comeback for a trainer he’s called ‘amazing’.
Classic-winning rider Eddie Ahern was warned off the sport for ten years after being found guilty of passing on insider information to former Premier League footballer Neil Clement.
Ahern was found to have failed to ride Judgethemoment out fully in a race at Lingfield in January 2011.
He was also judged to have told Clement to lay the horse, with the former defender risking £41,500 to win £8,500.
Clement was also found guilty of laying Hindu Kush, a horse he owned, to lose, and was banned for 15 years and fined £3,000.
But Ahern has served his time and after aborting plans to return to Britain due to injury is now set to race again in Denmark.
Ahern, who won a load of big races including the Irish St Leger, told the Racing Post he has teamed up with trainer Bent Olsen.
The jockey said: “I’m going to Denmark around April 1 and I’m going to start riding for Bent Olsen, who is the leading trainer there and based in Copenhagen.
“I’ve been cleared by the English and Irish authorities to ride and I now just have to fill in the application form to get my licence to ride in Denmark.
“Bent is an amazing trainer and not afraid to travel his horses to the big meetings, such as those in France, Germany and even Dubai.”
Ahern spoke previously of the dark days following the ban and how he is now ready to make amends.
He said: “Obviously, I felt the punishment was harsh, but I have served my ban and I need to move on.
“I am allowed to ride out for trainers, and while I still haven’t fully recovered from a broken leg, I wanted to get my leg stronger, get myself fit and get back into riding racehorses.
“I have been riding showjumpers, it has really helped get me back riding and strong again, but I wanted to get back on the racehorse again.
“It is where my passion lies and I have really missed it. It is really nice to get on a nice three-year-old or four-year-old.”
Ahern mentioned Frankie Dettori as an inspiration for his comeback to the saddle at the age of 46.
The world’s most famous jockey, 53, continues to bang in winners in the US after his retirement U-turn.
Ahern added: “I’m a young 46 and Frankie is still going and he’s seven years ahead of me.
“Hopefully I’ve plenty of mileage left.”