FACED WITH THE prospect of missing a high-profile ride aboard 8/11 favourite Native Khan in the 2,000 Guineas, Irish jockey Kieren Fallon has taken the decision to appeal his ten-day riding ban.

As reported here yesterday, Fallon was slapped with the suspension after stewards at Kempton ruled that he had failed to ride out to the finish during a race on Wednesday evening. His horse, Sukhothai, was subsequently pipped for second place on the line with the authorities taking a dim view of the jockey’s riding style.

Although he is far from hopeful that the ban – which runs from April 27 to May 6 – will be overturned on appeal, the six-time champion jockey has decided that he has nothing to lose by asking the appeals board to reconsider.

While it is unlikely that the suspension will be completely overturned, a reduction in its length could leave Fallon open to ride in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 30 as well as the following day’s 1,000 Guineas.

“I’m going to appeal anyway but I won’t hold my breath,” he said. “I’d like to ride Native Khan here but there are plenty of other good jockeys around.”

The rules are the rules and I was doing my best. I think the second horse would have got me anyway.