Second Empire out

Second Empire will miss next Saturday's Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown

Second Empire will miss next Saturday's Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The Epsom Derby failure was being aimed at 10 furlongs for the first time but Aidan O'Brien said yesterday: "I'm not 100 per cent happy with him and I've decided to give him a bit of a break."

Kieren Fallon will miss the final two days of the July Meeting at Newmarket the week after next after picking up a three-day ban for careless riding at the Curragh yesterday.

Fallon, who finished last on Henry Cecil's Sadian in the Irish Derby, rode Memorise to victory for the Warren Place trainer in the concluding Waterford Crystal World Sports Curragh Cup.

But Memorise, two-length conqueror of Stage Affair in the Group Three contest, drifted across the runner-up inside the final furlong, prompting the stewards to hold an inquiry.

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And although they allowed Memorise to keep the race, they suspended Fallon for three days, July 8th-10th inclusive, meaning he will miss the Wednesday and Thursday of the July fixture.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column