McCririck: Fallon should quit
Racing television personality John McCririck urged Kieren Fallon to retire after he was hit with a six-month ban for failing a drugs test.
The six-time champion jockey tested positive for a metabolite of a prohibited substance after he rode Ivan Denisovich in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on July 9.
France Galop’s ban begins on December 7 and is likely to be repeated in Ireland, Fallon’s homeland and base of paymasters Coolmore.
As the 41-year-old is also suspended from riding in Britain after he was charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers, McCririck believes it is time for the brilliant rider to call time on his career.
“You just wonder if there is any way back mentally for the man,” he said.
“Even with his remarkable mental strength, you would have to question how he would be able to come back in June and give horses a proper ride.
“There comes a limit as to how much one man can take.
“He’s talked about retiring in the past and I imagine this would be the best way to go.”
Although the level of metabolite found was described as “exceedingly low”, France Galop was left with no option but to suspend Fallon due to it being a strict liability offence.
The jockey has until midnight on Friday to appeal the decision.
Irish Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan questioned whether Fallon has the “mental strength” to make a comeback next year.
With Egan and his team poised to uphold Fallon’s French ban, the rider would endure the heartache of missing the Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas on May 26 and May 27 respectively.
“He’s having a really bad time at the moment what with the investigation in the UK and being tested for a prohibited substance,” said Egan.
“You would have to be a very strong individual to come back from that.
“One of the key things is that even if the UK situation gets sorted out, he’s still going to miss the Vodafone Epsom Derby because the ban will finish the Wednesday after the Epsom Derby.
“So effectively the four main Classics will be over by then in the UK.
“There’s a lot of good racing after that, but whether he has the mental strength to remain out of the game for six months and bounce back with all that’s going on around him is going to take a huge effort.”
No sooner had the news broken than speculation began over a successor as retained rider to the powerful Coolmore operation, who said in a statement they “will use the best jockey available to them” while Fallon is suspended.
Dermot Weld’s retained rider Pat Smullen is bet365’s 9-4 favourite to depose Fallon.
Irish champion Declan McDonogh is an 11-4 shot, while Jamie Spencer, who preceded Fallon at Coolmore, is quoted at 5-1.
Bets will be void if Fallon keeps Coolmore’s retainer in 2007 or no stable jockey is appointed.
“To say that Kieren Fallon has had a difficult six months would be a massive understatement and this latest setback could well see the former champ hang up his riding boots for good,” said bet365 spokesman George Primarolo.
“Although Coolmore have stressed that they may not employ a stable jockey should Fallon’s contract not be renewed, they have been keen to do so in the past and the wheels may already be in motion to bring someone new on board.”
