LINGFIELD and Kempton will be expecting an increase in attendances on Friday when jockey Kieran Fallon returns to the saddle on a British racecourse for the first time for more than three years.
He was allowed to ride in Ireland after having his licence suspended in July 2006 by the BHA, but has not ridden anywhere since winning the Arc de Triomphe on Dylan Thomas in 2007.
Fallon’s first ride back is expected to be on Diriculous at Lingfield for trainer Terry Mills, followed by a ride on Thin Red Line for Ed Dunlop.
The jockey then moves on to Kempton’s evening meeting where he has five booked rides including mounts for Sir Michael Stoute, Luca Cumani and Gerard Butler.
In a busy first weekend back he is expected to ride High Standing and Roaring Forte for William Haggas at Haydock plus a ride or two at Wolverhampton’s evening meeting and could then travel to Baden Baden to ride Youmzain for trainer Mick Channon in a Group One contest on Sunday.
The Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup is Haydock’s feature race and has attracted smart sprinters including six Group 1 winners headed by Darley July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit, last years Kings Stand winner Equiano, Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Art Connoisseur plus Bushranger and Intense Focus last year’s Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes winners.
High Standing looks likely to go off favourite for the race but, at around 3/1, the odds look to be a bit short in such a competitive race.
Trainer Marcus Tregoning has begun to churn out a few winners after a quiet spell and the column’s each way selection is for Finjaan, the mount of Richard Hills, to take a share of the prize money back to Lambourn.
The Group 1 event is one of four races to be covered by Channel 4 racing beginning with the five furlong Be Friendly Handicap that could be won by Northern Dare.
The Listed Superior Mile the second race on the card looks a tricky affair and a tentative selection is for the Henry Cecil trained Cloudy Start.
The cameras will also be at Kempton where their card gets underway with two Group 3 races beginning with the totepool Sirenia Stakes for two year olds.
Wiltshire trainer Richard Hannon has his smart youngster Monsieur Chevalier entered and could take a fair bit of beating if he goes to post.
The September Stakes, run over a mile and a half, looks yet another competitive contest with perhaps an interest on the Michael Jarvis trained All The Aces proving profitable.
Frankie Dettori is down to ride at the meeting and could delight his followers with a flying dismount should he win the London Mile Handicap Series Final on board Musieh for the Godolphin team.
Yorkshire racing fans are catered for at Thirsk where their first two races are two year old Maiden Stakes, Fantastic Strike could be the aptly named winner of the first race, trained by Mark Johnston with Happy Dubai worth a second look in the following event.
To complete the Saturday action Wolverhampton stages it’s popular evening meeting under lights and jumping fans are catered for with a meeting at Stratford.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article