Racing: Fallon heads home

Kieran Fallon is to end his three-year association with Lynda Ramsden's stable to ride in his native Ireland next season.

The jockey, who is closing on his first century, has had repeated brushes with racing's officialdom, the latest being an eight-day ban for irresponsible riding at Haydock on Saturday. "I can do without all this treatment by the stewards," the 31-year-old said.

A year ago Fallon was banned for six months for pulling his fellow rider Stuart Webster out of the saddle after they passed the post in a race at Beverley and earlier this season, at Pontefract, the hot-tempered Irishman was fined for verbally abusing a starter.

The Haydock officials found that Fallon's mount, Parrot Jungle, had bumped Witch Of Fife as he squeezed through a gap.

Mrs Ramsden's husband, Jack, said: "Kieran's riding is outstanding now. I know he gets fed up with the attitude of many stewards. In the heat of the moment he allows himself to get upset about things, which I can sympathise with.

"We ourselves are not happy with some things in Britain and reconsider things from year to year. If Kieran does go, it will make us take a closer look at where we are going."