The father of a jump jockey embroiled in a race-fixing probe stood by his son today, insisting: "His conscience is clear."

Mattie Batchelor, 28, from Brighton, has been questioned by the Jockey Club in connection with bets taken on two losing horses.

The investigation began after a race in March in which jockey Sean Fox was accused of jumping from his horse at Fontwell, near Arundel.

Mr Batchelor has also been interviewed about another losing horse at Leicester, although he was not at either meeting.

The inquiry centres on internet betting exchanges where anyone with proven financial backing can offer odds on horses.

His father, Mick Batchelor, said: "Mattie has never been in trouble in his life, with the police or anyone.

"This is a worry because his career and livelihood are at stake but his conscience is clear."

Mr Batchelor, a 60-year-old builder, of Slinfold Close, Brighton, said his son had co-operated fully with the Jockey Club investigation.

He said: "He is innocent but the worry is that mud sticks. That's what makes it unfair."

Mattie Batchelor, currently racing in Sweden, denies any involvement with the exchanges.

The Racing Post newspaper has named another Brighton man as being at the centre of the investigation.

The Argus traced the suspect to a flat in Brighton but the occupant said: "He hasn't been here and I don't know where he is.

"And it's all a load of rubbish anyway."

Mr Batchelor said his son had been an acquaintance of the suspect from schooldays.

He said: "The man's girlfriend phoned Mattie asking for race tickets - that's the only connection.

"Mattie is forever being asked for tickets and he's very generous - he doesn't like to say no to anyone.

"He was in a shop once and bought a phone top-up card for a complete stranger who didn't have enough money. He's that kind of person."

The Brighton-born jockey went straight into racing when he left the old Stanley Deason School in Whitehawk.

He rode for the late Charlie Moore, a well-known trainer in Woodingdean, Brighton, and won his first race in 1995.

Earlier this month he won the Swedish Grand National and the Swedish Champion Hurdle on the same day.

Photographs of him cover the lounge walls at his parents' home.

His father said he was proud of his son's achievements, adding: "Mattie has a lot of friends. They all know he would not have anything to do with anything like this.

"Mattie is a good lad."

Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse said the club's security department was about to submit a report on the investigation but would not comment further.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the force was not investigating and had not been approached to investigate any allegations of illegal race-fixing.