Not such a happy new year for duo

Top Jockeys Tony Culhane and Dean Mernagh will face corruption charges following an inquiry by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.

The charges relate to as many as 37 races between July 2003 and April 2004.

Both riders deny any wrongdoing and have released a statement through their legal representatives.

"Tony and Dean have done nothing wrong and remain confident that they will successfully defend the charges," said legal representative Phil Williams.

The riders have been charged along with two unlicensed individuals, Gary Lyons, who is Culhane's brother-in-law, and David Watkins, Culhane's father-in-law.

Culhane and Mernagh are accused of "communicating to Lyons for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind information that was not publicly available or provided for in Appendix N to the Rules".