Racing: Dettori ban follows throes of Tralee

FIVE YEARS after Lester Piggott attracted huge crowds to Tralee, Frankie Dettori will follow in the great man's footsteps by riding at the Co Kerry track tonight.

Racecourse officials are hoping Dettori will have the same effect on the turnstiles as the "long fella" did. "Lester came five years ago and we had about 7,000 people," Pat Green, the course manager, said yesterday.

"I think it will be the same tomorrow. It's the first time Frankie has ridden here. He has three rides, on Jay And-A, Magic Annemarie and Allotrope, and they all have each-way chances."

Dettori would have plenty of time to enjoy the west of Ireland scenery as he is unable to ride again until Sunday. He will be serving out a ban for the rest of this week.

There was disappointing news concerning Walter Swinburn, who last rode in public more than a fortnight ago when he decided to take a ``short rest'' because of weight problems.

Swinburn initially planned a week's break but his agent, Nick Jackson, said yesterday: "I don't know when he will come back.

"He is still in a health farm and he will return when his weight stabilises. We won't name a time - he will return when he is ready."

Swinburn returned from a 10-month weight-induced "sabbatical" early this year, but has not ridden since 9 August when he won the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown on Lavery for Aidan O'Brien. He was unable to partner O'Brien's Hunan in the Group One Prix Morny yesterday.