Fallon Ruled Out Of Derby

Fallon Ruled Out Of Derby

Kieren Fallon has been banned from riding in the Investec Derby after the Court of Appeal overturned an earlier ruling allowing him to take part.

The three-time Epsom Derby winner was due to ride the Aiden O'Brien trained Recital in the blue ribband Classic but was ordered not to take part in the race by the sitting judges Lord Justice Jackson and Lord Justice Elias at a hearing this morning.

Ibrahim Araci, the owner of Native Khan, had sought to prevent Fallon riding over claims that he had broken a "promise" to ride Native Khan and claimed that, under the terms of a retainer agreement, Fallon should not be allowed to ride any other horse in the race.

Fallon said there had been an "innocent misunderstanding" over his riding arrangements.

According to the Racing Post Mehmet Ali Erdogan, solicitor for Araci said: "It was a breach of contract and my client is very happy with the judgement. He believes in the Derby and the British judgement system and knows they're bigger than Kieren Fallon."

He added that it was "unlikely" the jockey would ride a horse owned by Mr Araci in the future.

Fallon's solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said "Kieren is obviously disappointed and very sorry not to be riding in the Derby this afternoon".

The ride on the well fancied Ballydoyle runner will now go to Irish Champion jockey Pat Smullen and post time is 4:00pm.

For further reading about this story see the Racing Post. and Irish Racing