Gallagher has not ruled out return

Dean Gallagher has not ruled out a return to race-riding when he has served a ban for testing positive for cocaine.

The Champion Hurdle-winning jockey was handed an 18-month suspension at a Jockey Club inquiry earlier this month, after which he feared his career in the saddle may be over.

He cannot reapply for his licence until May 1 2004 when he will be 35 years old.

Having already served a six-month ban for testing positive in France on three occasions in 2000, Gallagher failed a drugs test at Newton Abbot on September 4 when his sample was found to contain benzoylecgonine, a diagnostic metabolite of cocaine.

“I’ve got 18 months to think about it (a return to race-riding). It’s a long time.

“I’m 33 now. If I can keep myself fit, which I certainly will do. I’m still riding out, I’m still enjoying my riding and I might have a different view in 18 months time,” Gallagher told attheraces today.

“At the moment I’m just keeping things in the day. We’ll see what happens. I’ve got plenty of time to think about that.”