I'm not giving up, says Fallon

Bookmakers may think the race for the jockeys’ title is all over but defending champion Kieren Fallon has not given up hope of retaining his crown – despite being 17 winners behind runaway leader Frankie Dettori.

Ladbrokes offered to pay out on the ever-popular Italian earlier in the week after Fallon suffered a crashing fall at Leicester on Monday, one in which he narrowly escaped serious injury.

The Irishman has not ridden since that incident but intends to return to the saddle at Newmarket tomorrow and he said in his weekly Teletext column: “I can assure you I am in great form and raring to go again.

“I noticed that the bookies have decided that Frankie has won the championship as they are already paying out.

“Well, I want to point out it can be very dangerous to write a champion off. I remember a bookie once paid out early on Manchester United, and Arsenal came with a late run and pipped them.

“My task is hard, but I am not the sort of man you write off and I will be kicking on trying to catch Mr Dettori.”

Fallon’s first ride back is on Bold Eagle for Michael Stoute in the opening Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Maiden Stakes and he then has commitments for various other trainers later on the card.

The six-times champion has a full book of seven rides on Champions’ Day at Newmarket on Saturday, when he could be in for a busy time as he also has mounts booked at Yarmouth’s matinee fixture as well as at Wolverhampton in the evening.