Racing legend Frankie Dettori revealed as star in secret ‘tax avoidance battle’ with HMRC

FRANKIE Dettori has been named as the “tax avoidance scheme” star in a battle with HMRC.

The jockey was identified after losing a legal challenge.

He and his lawyers at a tax tribunal tried to stop his ­anonymity from being lifted and said he was told the scheme was approved by the taxman.

Yesterday, after he was named in public court documents, Dettori, 53, said he was “working hard to unravel the mess that I have been put in”.

He originally brought the legal case against HMRC after he was rejected for some deductions in income tax.

Judges had ruled his identity could be kept private but media organisations and HMRC challenged the anonymity order,.

After the lifting, the Italian said: “A few years ago, I employed the services of professional specialist tax advisers to look after mine and my family’s financial affairs.

"A structure was created and I was told that it had been approved by HMRC.”

He added: “My former advisers have since been dismissed.”

HMRC said: “We welcome this decision, which represents an important win for the principle of open justice.”