Racing:The controversial former champion jockey Kieren Fallon is considering his options after receiving a six-month ban from the French racing authorities. But it appears highly unlikely he will lodge an appeal against the suspension before tonight's midnight deadline.
Under the rules of France Galop, French racing's ruling body, Fallon has until tonight to instigate an appeal against the penalty imposed for testing positive for a prohibited substance at Chantilly last July. The Irishman's sample reportedly showed traces of cocaine.
The suspension is set to begin next Thursday and stretch to June 6th next, ruling him out of most of the classic season in Europe.
But industry sources have suggested an appeal could backfire against the 41-year-old jockey if unsuccessful. If an appeal were lodged, it might not be heard until February or March, and if Fallon lost, he would face missing out on most of the 2007 flat season.
A France Galop spokesman has stated both Fallon's A and B samples have tested positive.
Official notification of the France Galop action was sent to the Turf Club yesterday, and if no appeal proceedings are started, Fallon faces a worldwide ban from race riding.
"We are the ones who license him and we are going to reciprocate the ban from France Galop so it's highly unlikely he would get a licence anywhere else," said the Turf Club chief executive, Denis Egan.
"France Galop have been on to us and everything is now official. What they have said is that in the event of him not appealing, they will be asking us to reciprocate the ban and that means he will be suspended from everywhere," he added.
Fallon has reportedly been left "devastated" by the French ban, which comes at the end of a hugely controversial year that also sees the Clareman facing a court case on charges of conspiracy to defraud.
Already speculation is mounting that he could retire completely from race riding, and some bookmakers are betting on a possible successor to Fallon at Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stables.
The three-times Irish champion jockey Pat Smullen is as low as 9 to 4 with one British-based firm to take over from Fallon, though Smullen is currently retained by the Moyglare Stud and Dermot Weld.
"Although Coolmore have stressed that they may not employ a stable jockey should Fallon's contract not be renewed, they have been keen to do so in the past and the wheels may already be in motion to bring someone new on board," said a spokesman for bet365.
William Hill have issued an extensive list of ante-post prices but it was the current Ballydoyle number two, Séamus Heffernan, who was backed with them yesterday and is now 2 to 1 favourite to succeed Fallon.
A Hills spokesman said: "Being appointed stable jockey at Ballydoyle is undoubtedly the highest-profile riding job in racing, and if Kieren does decide to call it a day there will be a lot of jockeys vying for the hot seat."
Both Irish hopes, Fota Island and Central House, are 11 to 1 with the sponsors for the William Hill Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown tomorrow after seven horses were declared at yesterday's final stage. Kauto Star is a 4 to 7 favourite.
On the home front, the focus will be on Fairyhouse on Sunday, and Edward O'Grady will be strongly represented, with O'Muircheartaigh in the Drinmor Chase and the odds-on favourite, Clopf, in the Royal Bond Hurdle.
"Clopf is a very slick hurdler for a novice and I hope he can build on what he's doing," O'Grady said yesterday.
"I don't know if O'Muircheartaigh deserves to be favourite for the Drinmore," added the Co Tipperary trainer.
"I don't think there is a lot between four or five horses there and I think it may be a case of who gets it right on the day."
O'Muircheartaigh is a 7-2 Drinmore favourite with Cashmans after some support yesterday.
BALLYDOYLE SUCCESSION STAKES (William Hill bet):2, Séamus Heffernan, 3 Pat Smullen, 4 Declan McDonogh, 5 Michael Kinane, 8 Fran Berry, 10 Ryan Moore, John Murtagh, Jamie Spencer, 12 Christophe Soumillon, 16 Kerrin McEvoy, 20 Robert Winston, 50 Frankie Dettori.
