Fallon may miss Leger due to ban

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon heads to Yorkshire for the start of the Ebor meeting today, looking forward to a clutch of top rides but worried that he could miss part or all of the Rothmans Royals St Leger Festival at Doncaster next month.

Fallon, currently homing in on his fifth jockeys' title, has fallen foul of the stewards on several occasions of late and triggered a referral under the Jockey Club's totting-up procedure after being found guilty of irresponsible riding aboard Golden Nun at Newmarket on Saturday.

A swift hearing would have enabled Fallon to serve his ban and return in ample time for the Leger on 14 September. However, Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse confirmed last night that the matter is unlikely to be resolved before next week.

"Kieren's previous championship seasons have been notable for a lack of suspensions, but if this latest offence is confirmed he faces a lengthy ban," he said.

"We're liasing with Kieren as to when his hearing will take place, but it doesn't look as though it will be possible to fix a date this week and in that case the Leger meeting would have to be doubtful for him."

Fallon currently lies eleven winners ahead of Richard Hughes in the title race but could find his lead eroded considerably if, as seems likely, he receives a ban of 12 days or more.