BUCKINGHAM Palace says it will replace jockey Frankie Dettori's stolen MBE which was taken with a haul of treasured trophies and medals from his home - but the sporting star will have to buy it.

BUCKINGHAM Palace says it will replace jockey Frankie Dettori's stolen MBE which was taken with a haul of treasured trophies and medals from his home - but the sporting star will have to buy it.

Dettori is now offering a cash reward for the safe return of the items, which were taken in what detectives believe was a well-researched raid on his house near Newmarket.

But the former champion has admitted he is “not hopeful” of seeing his children's jewellery or the many valuable medals again.

A number of trophies, including the MBE and jewellery, were taken from his house along with a special medal given to him by the president of Italy and three gold whips which he was handed for winning the Dubai World Cup.

He said: “I've made an appeal through the media and put up a reward. The police are still at work on it and we can only sit and wait, but I'm not hopeful.”

The items, stolen from the house in Stetchworth on Friday night, are believed to all be made from gold and other expensive metals and it is feared the haul may be melted down and sold on.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: “Mr Detorri will be able to purchase a replacement to his stolen MBE. When he received it he would have received a note about insurance of the award.”

The value of the reward on offer for the return of the medals has not been specified, and although the estimated value of the stolen goods is believed to be thousands of pounds, it has also not been revealed.

Detorri said he was shocked by the raid, which happened while the house was empty. “It's been a tough time for all of us - we just want to get back to normal life,” he added.

The jockey's father in-law Professor Twink Allen said earlier this week that the thieves could belong to a “professional" gang who had recently targeted football players.

He said: “They very clearly knew what they were about and were very professional - they very rapidly ransacked the house and spilled the contents of the drawers on the ground.

“They concentrated themselves on trophies that had gold on them which they screwed off their bases - there have been burglaries at the homes of other sportsmen and I think they are being linked."

He added: “The things they have taken are mementos which mean something to Frankie - they are irreplaceable and this is very hurtful.”

Anyone with information about the stolen items should call Cambridgeshire police on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.