Fall threatens Fallon’s title chances

Current champion jockey Kieren Fallon suffered a crushing fall at Leicester yesterday, but after a brief spell in hospital, he was back on his feet by yesterday evening and adamant that he would continue his battle for the defence of his title, despite being forced to sit out today’s racing because of his injuries.

That, however, was looking a distant possibility yesterday afternoon, and Frankie’ Dettori continued inexorably on his flamboyant path towards success. He scored a treble while Fallon flailed in the grass, taking his lead to 13.

Fallon’s misfortune – he was knocked from his mount, Maritima, as the filly was barged sideways by another runner – is another nail in the coffin of this year’s championship title as far as the Irish jockey is concerned.

Although Dettori will have two days racing abroad which will allow Fallon to make some ground, with just three weeks left to go, it will be a steep uphill struggle to even come close to the glamorous Italian.

Mare proves her worth in cross country chase

The German raider Registana, reigned victorious in the Velka Pardubicka Chase in the Czech Republic on Sunday for the second year in a row.

The race is in its 114th year. It is, perhaps, the most notorious steeplechase in the world, and its fearsome hedges and open ditches inspire awe in even the most battle-worn jockeys. The terrain – a mixture of turf and plough – can knock the stuffing out of the most resilient horses, but the £105,000 prize-money attracts entrants year after year.

Registana is a nifty eight-year-old mare, who is as yet unbeaten in her nine starts, two of which are in this race. She looked invincible from the outset, steering clear of any trouble behind her and settling into a steady gallop.

Never out of the first two, she eventually scored an easy win for her German jockey Peter Gehm, who has now won this race on all four of its most recent runnings.

The mare is now likely to be directed at Cheltenham next month, in a race over a cross-country course that could have been designed specifically with Registana and her dexterity over unusual fences in mind.

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