Fallon misses F'house rides & opening winner

Kieren Fallon missed the winning ride, through injury, on Bainne in the opening Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter & Facebook Claiming Race at Fairyhouse today, with the jockey’s absence paving the way for Colin Keane to instead steer the Michael O’Callaghan trained mare to win.

The daughter of Strategic Prince was the well backed 6/4 favourite and once Keane moved his way through between horses in the home straight, in the end stayed on well for a comfortable win over My Painter

Fallon primarily rides for O’Callaghan and the trainer later reported “Kieren took a fall on last lot this morning. He got a slap off the ground, and fingers crossed it doesn't take him too long to return. He's 51 now and hits the ground a bit harder than he used to.”

He added “she (Bainne) won well, although it was a big drop in class. She likes to get into plenty of trouble, and Colin burst through a gap. I thought she wasn't going to get through for a while but she quickened up well and needs to come between horses.

"I think claimers are a good idea, and if there was one every week I'd have a runner.”

There were five claims (each for the set price of E10,000) for the winner, with trainer O'Callaghan proving successful in the draw afterwards.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee