Fallon Appeal Confirmed

Kieren Fallon has lodged an appeal against his suspension from riding in Britain.

It will heard in Fallon's absence by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority appeal board at 5pm tomorrow and will be chaired by former High Court judge Sir Roger Buckley.

A week ago the six-times champion was charged as part of a police investigation into alleged race-fixing. Any trial in the case is not expected to be before spring 2007.

On Friday, a special panel of the HRA made an order prohibiting him from riding in races in Britain 'until the conclusion of the trial or further orders'.

Licensed by the Irish Turf Club, Fallon is still allowed to ride in other countries and was in action in Ireland and France over the weekend.

Fellow jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams were also charged by the City of London Police with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers.

Williams has also lodged an appeal but his case is unlikely to be heard this week.

Although Lynch has yet to appeal he is expected to follow suit before Friday's deadline. All three jockeys concerned protest their innocence.

Lynch and Williams will receive compensation from the British Horseracing Board for loss of earnings.

Fallon, meanwhile, had a frustrating time at Roscommon last night as he continued his search for a first winner since he was charged in relation to the police investigation into alleged race-fixing.

The six-times champion had two booked rides but Spanish Parade could manage only third in the opener, while Albertinelli, his intended mount in the Glenman Corporation Ltd Building Contractors Lenebane Stakes, was declared a non-runner after the ground changed to yielding following heavy rain earlier in the day.

The Listed event went the way of the Dermot Weld-trained Royal Intrigue, with the 7-1 chance making virtually all and holding the fast-finishing Blessyourpinksox by three-quarters of a length.

Winning rider Pat Smullen said: 'He got a clear run out in front and seemed to enjoy it.

'He's a horse we always thought quite a bit of last year and a bit of ease in the ground helped him.'

? PA Sport