Kieren Fallon will miss the Vodafone Derby after being suspended at Ayr this afternoon. The jockey was found guilty of irresponsible riding of a minor nature on third-placed Distinctive Dream in the RS Design Handicap and as a result was suspended for June 9, 10 and 11. The stewards found that his mount had interfered with Tancred Times well inside the final furlong before going on to finish third.
The former champion jockey was expected to partner ante-post favourite Golan in the Epsom Classic. Because the ban is of a duration for more than two days it cannot be delayed. Fallon's only hope of riding in the Derby is to make an appeal against the decision.
Stewards' secretary Nick Vigors said: "If Mr Fallon decides to appeal he has got until Monday evening to lodge the appeal and it would be heard before the date of the start of the suspension. If the appeal failed the days of the suspension could not be changed."
Bookies have now eased Derby favourite Golan to 5/2 from 9/4 following the news about Fallon's suspension. Although it had yet to be officially declared that Fallon would partner Golan, most people expected the former champion jockey to be on board. Golan's stablemate Dilshaan is now 11/2 from 6/1 and Predominate Stakes winner Asian Heights is down to 7/1 from 15/2.
Meanwhile, Nayef was today ruled out of competing in the Epsom Classic by trainer Marcus Tregoning. "I had a discussion with Sheikh Hamdan and realistically Nayef at the moment wouldn't win the Epsom Derby so he will miss the Derby," explained Tregoning.
"I think it's best to give Epsom a miss rather than give him a hard race to finish sixth. We will be making plans for him a little bit later on but I think it's the right decision. The Guineas form has taken a bit of a knock and I think we should wait and give him a bit of a chance. He's grown an awful lot and I just feel his strength has gone for the time being," he added.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
