Crown Prosecutor Favours Fallon

By Caitriona Fenton

After a lucrative week Kieren Fallon might just be back on track to win the British Flat Jockeys’ Championship after a lengthy absence from the roll of honour. Fallen is currently fourth in the race for the title behind some of Britain’s top jockeys, who have risen up the ranks in his absence. In recent years Fallon’s career has been marred by controversy. When charged with allegations of conspiracy to defraud in 2007 his British licence was revoked. Soon after being cleared of that charge he failed a drug test and incurred an 18 month worldwide ban. At that stage it looked like his career was over.

The six-time Champion Jockey managed to have an excellent career between controversies. He has ridden no less than three English Derby winners, four 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, four Oaks, two Irish Derbies, two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes and the list goes on and on!

Fallon was down but not out as we saw from his hat trick at Goodwood. This brought his tally of winners up to 38, with wins on Belle Royale, Alfresco and the ironically named Crown Prosecutor. At present he is 14 winners behind the Championship leader Paul Hanagan. However he is 7/1 second favourite (William Hill) to win behind Ryan Moore who at 4/1 on is lying in second with one winner less than Hanagan. Hanagan, who himself pulled off a 203/1 treble on Monday at Carlisle is 18/1 for the title. The 27 year old has had a great start to the season but it is hard to see him keeping ahead of Ryan Moore.

With the power of the Michael Stoute yard behind him it is clear to see why Ryan Moore is favourite. He is also no stranger to the title of Champion Jockey, having won it in 2009, 2008 and 2006. Only for breaking his arm at Lingfield in 2007 he might have had four consecutive titles. The son of trainer Gary Moore and brother to jump jockey Jamie, Ryan has had an illustrious career. He showed promise early on when he took the title of Champion Apprentice in 2003. Some of Moore’s more notable wins include two Breeders Cups on Conduit (2008, 2009) the Eclipse Stakes on Notnowcato in 2007 and the Dewhurst Stakes on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Beethoven in 2009.

In third place in the table is Irish jockey Richard Hughes. He is 8/1 for the title with William Hill. The son of National Hunt trainer Dessie Hughes has been a regular at the top of the table since he started riding in England. In spite of this he has never actually managed to win the title coming second a total of three times. Hughes, like Hanagan has had a great start to the season winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas last week. Previous to that he won the Lockinge Stakes on Paco Boy. Although Hughes has never ridden a British Classic winner he has notched up a few in Europe.

When he held the position of first jockey to Prince Khalid Abdullah he succeeded in winning the French 1,000 Guineas on Zenda, the 2,000 Guineas on American Post and the French Oaks on Nebraska Tornado. He also won the Italian Derby in 2006 on Bahamian Knight. Hughes is one of the most stylish riders you will see on the flat, so stylish that it is easy to forget he rode winners over jumps. He rode An Irish Champion Hurdle winner – Cockney Lad in 1997.

It is definitely going to be interesting to see how the season develops. I would love to see Richard Hughes win, although Ryan Moore looks to have too much fire power. However with Fallon back in the picture anything could happen.

By Caitriona Fenton