Fallon confirmed for Melbourne mission

Paul Hanagan’s chances of being crowned champion jockey for a second successive year were given a boost with the news title rival Kieren Fallon is heading to Australia to ride in the Melbourne Cup on November 1.

Six-times champion Fallon has enjoyed an excellent second half to the season, but will miss the British action at the start of next month in favour of a trip Down Under.

Fallon’s agent, Terry Norman, reported on Twitter: “Kieren will be going to ride in the Melbourne Cup.

“Ride to be confirmed tomorrow (Friday).”

Coral reacted to the news by pushing Fallon out to 7-1 from 4-1 to be crowned champion jockey, while Hanagan is 1-5 from 2-7 to retain his title.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “Paul Hanagan was already odds-on to win back-to-back titles, and the news that Kieren Fallon will now be heading Down Under during the final week of the season would appear to signal an end to the latter’s title challenge for another year.”

The firm also make the only other player in the title race, Silvestre de Sousa, a 7-1 shot.