Britain’s bookmakers are braced for one of the busiest days of the year this week, when the former champion jockey Kieren Fallon makes his long-awaited return to action on Friday. Fallon, 44, last rode in Britain in July 2006, since when he has faced an Old Bailey trial into alleged race-fixing, which ultimately collapsed, and served an 18-month suspension for failing a drugs test in France.

“Having been Champion jockey six times, and won 15 British Classics, Kieren Fallon had a huge following amongst punters before his suspension, and despite his well-publicised run-ins with the racing authorities, we expect him to be just as popular in betting shops up and down the country when he makes his comeback,” said Coral spokesman David Stevens.

“He’s booked for seven rides at Lingfield and Kempton on his first day back, and we expect all his mounts to be extremely well-backed, with punters hoping he can make a winning return to the saddle. One Fallon winner would cost the bookies a small fortune, were he to win all seven races, we would face the biggest payout since Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven at Ascot 13 years ago,” added Stevens.

Fallon is 3-1 with Coral to win next year’s Jockeys’ championship, 4-11 to ride a Group One winner this year, and 14-1 to win Europe’s biggest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, for a third time next month.

*Kieren Fallon’s rides on Friday:
Lingfield 2.20 Rare Malt; 3.20 Roodee King; 3.50 Diriculous; 4.50 Satwa Gold; Kempton 6.20 Wigan Lane; 7.50 Arte Viva; 8.50 Bugaku.

**Coral Kieren Fallon 2009 Specials
4-11 To ride a Group/Grade One winner
4-6 To ride a winner for Aidan O’Brien
5-1 To ride a Longchamp winner on Arc day
5-1 To ride a Breeders’ Cup winner
14-1 To ride the Arc winner
16-1 Ride the Melbourne Cup winner

**2010 Flat Jockeys’ Championship
2-5 Ryan Moore, 3-1 (from 10-3) Kieren Fallon, 8-1 Richard Hughes, 12-1 Jamie Spencer, Seb Sanders
 

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