A TOP North Yorkshire racehorse trainer today denied any wrongdoing after a television investigation into a "no-lose" betting system.

Norton trainer Jimmy FitzGerald, who has trained in Ryedale for almost 30 years, denied playing any part in the scandal BBC's Panorama programme claims is at the heart of the racing world.

Mr FitzGerald was approached by programme-makers who asked him if he had had no-lose bets with bookmaker Victor Chandler in the 1990s.

But while he openly admits he has bet with Chandler in the past, he denies any wrongdoing.

He said today: "I can assure you that when I had a bet with Victor Chandler I paid up and I have cheque books to prove it.

"It was just rubbish. They are not interested in the truth."

Mr FitzGerald, who was seen reacting angrily on camera as Panorama approached him, said: "It was rubbish, and I have more things to bother me with at the moment."

The Jockey Club's former head of security, Roger Buffham, acted as a whistle-blower for the BBC, raising widespread allegations of race-fixing, dubious betting networks and jockeys mixing with criminals.

But in a statement issued by the club, public relations director John Maxse said: "It's astonishing that the BBC omit to inform viewers vital and relevant facts about their two principal witnesses."

Updated: 14:54 Monday, October 07, 2002