Horseracing: Fallon appeal thrown out

Kieren Fallon’s attempt to save his ride on favourite Golan in Saturday’s Vodafone Derby met with defeat and disappointment today.

The Jockey Club disciplinary committee threw out Fallon’s appeal against the three-day ban imposed by the Ayr stewards last week, to consign the former champion to the sidelines on Flat racing’s biggest day.

The committee ordered Fallon’s £400 deposit to be forfeited, a sign that the Irishman was clutching at straws in hoping that he could have the ban overturned, or have the offence downgraded to be worth two-days, which would have allowed him to ride in the Derby under the exemption clause which governs Group One races.

Fallon said little as he brushed through waiting reporters and photographers after the 90-minute hearing at the Jockey Club’s London headquarters.

Ask how the proceedings went, Fallon muttered: ‘‘Not very good...no good.’’

Then, when a BBC Radio journalist inquired as to how Fallon was feeling, the jockey, clearly upset, retorted: ‘‘How do you think? Why not forget about it.’’

Fallon’s ban had been for irresponsible riding of a minor nature when finishing third on Distinctive Dream in the RS Design Handicap at the Scottish course last Thursday.

His mount was deemed to have interfered with the unplaced Tancred Times, who was ridden by Tyrone Williams.

Fallon, who was legally represented by solicitor Andrew Chalk, argued today that when a slight gap appeared his mount went left unexpectedly and of its own accord.

The committee ruled that this was not borne out by the evidence, and that Fallon, who had been waiting for a gap to appear, made a manoeuvre to his left when it should have been obvious to him that would have resulted in interference.

Fallon’s solicitor is then understood to have made a compassionate plea to treat this as a special case. This was turned down.

The race at Ayr was worth just over £3,000 to the winner. The Derby carries a prize fund of £m.

Fallon had nothing to lose by appealing, but the fact that the committee withheld his deposit indicated that there was nothing new or there were no good grounds for the appeal being lodged.

John Maxse, the Jockey Club’s public relations officer, said: ‘‘The committee withheld Fallon’s deposit as they felt there were not reasonable and proper grounds for the appeal. Actually there was no new evidence brought which merited an appeal.

‘‘Fallon’s team had argued that the horse had taken its own course into the gap. The committee took a view that the evidence wasn’t in fact borne out by the video and therefore it was an offence that merited three days, which is the minimum for that category of interference.’’

Fallon’s ban covers the three days racing from Saturday to next Monday, and he is free to ride the favourite Flight Of Fancy for Sir Michael Stoute in the Vodafone Oaks on Friday.

Pat Eddery is now confirmed as Golan’s partner in the Derby, while Johnny Murtagh will ride the stable companion, Dilshaan.