Smullen Favourite To Take Over From Fallon Bookmakers believe Pat Smullen would be the favoured candidate should the powerful Coolmore operation elect to replace Kieren Fallon as their retained rider.Smullen, whose main patron is Dermot Weld, is bet365's 9-4 market leader to depose Fallon on the back of the six-times champion being hit with a six-month ban by the French racing authorities for failing a drugs test.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.'? PA Sport
