Fallon out of luck in Irish opener

Kieren Fallon’s new career failed to start with a victory after his first mount at the Curragh this afternoon, One Fell Swoop, finished ninth on the opening day of the Irish Flat season.

Fallon was riding the juvenile for David Wachman in the opening Tally Ho Stud European Breeders Fund but, despite a good start, he was pushing the colt along by halfway.

The five-furlong contest was won in nice style by the Tommy Stack-trained Northern Flight (5-1) and Wayne Lordan, who quickened away from Shinko Dancer by a length and a half.

Fallon has his first rides for new boss Aidan O’Brien later on the card.

Afterwards, Fallon told At The Races: "It is a new year - I am looking forward to it, and with a bit of luck, we can't go wrong.

“It is early days, the horse of David’s just needed educating there, and hopefully next time he can do better over a longer trip. But it its early for the babies just now, and they are still learning.”

Fallon fared slightly better on his first ride for O'Brien, taking sixth with Jaguar On The Run in the Peter Keatley Curragh Equine Groundcare Maiden.

Sent off the 11-10 favourite for his racecourse debut, the Michael Tabor-owned three-year-old ran green but was staying on well at the end.

However, he was no match for another debutant, the Mick Halford-trained Lahiba (20-1), who came through to lead a furlong and a half from home, holding Cove Mountain by three-quarters of a length.

It was a first winner for Johnny Murtagh, who will be the regular rider for Halford when he is in Ireland.