Fallon faces wait for appeal

Kieren Fallon will have to wait until the morning to find out if he will be able to ride Recital in the Investec Derby after a day of drama at the High Court in London.

The Court of Appeal will announce its decision at 9am tomorrow in the case brought by Ibrahim Araci, the owner of Native Khan, after judge Mr Justice MacDuff had refused to grant an injunction preventing Fallon from riding in the Epsom Classic.

The owners of Native Khan claimed that Fallon had broken a “promise” to ride their horse and, under the terms of an agreement, should be prevented from riding another in the race.

Fallon denied breach of contract and said there had been an “innocent misunderstanding”.

The three-times Derby winning jockey looked set to be reacquainted with the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan in the Derby after riding him in a piece of work at Epsom last week.

But on Monday it was announced he would partner the Aidan O’Brien-trained Recital, whom he rode to win the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

The Native Khan team acted quickly to snap up another three-time Derby winning jockey Johnny Murtagh for the ride and trainer Ed Dunlop has been delighted with the grey colt’s preparation.

“Native Khan could not be any better. His final gallop on the Al Bahathri on Wednesday was his best yet, so he has peaked just at the right time,” the Newmarket handler told his website www.edunlop.com.

“He has definitely improved and grown up since he finished third in the Guineas.

“We have always felt that Native Khan was more a stayer than a miler and we are confident he will get a mile and a quarter.

“After that we don’t know, but his preparation has gone very smoothly, so there will be no excuses if he is beaten.”

O’Brien, who has a team of four, believes Recital has the necessary class, but stamina is a slight concern.

“We were happy with Recital at Leopardstown. He’s a very brilliant horse with an instant turn of toe,” he said.

“Recital has that kick of brilliance in him and would definitely get a mile and a quarter and you have to take the rest on trust.

“He has plenty of class and usually a horse that travels the way he travels doesn’t have any problem with the track.”

O’Brien is also happy with his other runners – Dante runner-up, Seville, Chester Vase winner and Memphis Tennessee, second to Recital at Leopardstown.

“Seville is a very solid looking horse who should have no problem getting a mile and a half,” he went on.

“Hopefully Memphis Tennessee has come on and looking at him he should have a good chance of getting a mile and a half.

“Treasure Beach ran a grand trial at Chester and got the mile and a half well. He’s a solid horse.”

Derrick Smith is part-owner of each of the O’Brien horses, and also French raider Pour Moi.

Andre Fabre’s Prix Greffulhe winner impressed in a spin round Epsom at the Breakfast With The Stars morning last week.

“Andre said he always sweats, as he did at the Breakfast With The Stars morning, and he’d be more concerned if he didn’t do that,” said Smith.

“Pour Moi’s action looked good – I listen to other people on those things, but everybody seemed impressed with him.

“The jockey seemed happy and when Andre is happy, everyone is happy.”

Joining Pour Moi on the journey across the Channel is the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Vadamar, beaten into third when sent off at odds-on for the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud.

Georges Rimaud, racing manager for owner the Aga Khan, said: “He is quite an easygoing horse and I think he should handle the track.

“Obviously Epsom is a tricky racecourse and we will find out on the day, but we think he is a reasonable candidate.”

Godolphin’s sole representative is Newmarket Listed race winner Ocean War.

Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni told www.godolphin.com: “Ocean War is improving all of the time and we don’t know how good he could turn out to be.

“He won nicely at Newmarket but was running a bit green in the closing stages. He was very sharp on his seasonal return but I don’t know why he started watching everything on his next start.

“I am sure that he won’t get the chance to start thinking too much around Epsom and Frankie is taking the ride, which will also help.”