Having been charged by the Jockey Club on Tuesday of this week for acting in a manner prejudicial to the sport's "integrity and good reputation", Kieren Fallon's woes are regrettably far from over.
Dogged by controversy throughout his career, such setbacks have never stopped the reigning champion jockey riding winners in the past, and on his return at Kempton from a 21-day suspension he appears to have a golden opportunity of bagging the £40,000 Rosebery Stakes aboard Dumaran (2.10).
Although Dumaran cut no ice in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, the one-mile trip was far too short, plus he was drawn with the bunch on the unfavoured far side, none of whom managed to get in the first four places.
Dumaran (2.10), who left Andrew Balding to join Willie Musson in the close season, has slipped back to a winning mark and should be fully wound-up fitness-wise to do himself justice, especially with Fallon's invaluable services.
In the following two-mile Queen's Prize, Anak Pekan (2.40) warrants the closest inspection.
The Mick Jarvis-trained four-year-old managed just one success last season, but cruelly finished second five times. It could be argued Anak Pekan is a professional loser, but I'm not one to subscribe to that pessimistic theory.
"He looks a much a stronger horse this year and will go for the better staying handicaps," declared Jarvis, who has high hopes of winning either the Chester Cup or Northumberland Plate with Anak Pekan over the coming months.
Lynda Ramsden has some very tasty three-year-olds in her Sandhutton-near-Thirsk stable at present, none more so than Mount Vettore (2.30), by no means a back-number in the Bigwigs Bloodstock Racing Club Handicap at Haydock.
Mount Vettore, a cosy scorer on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in January, stepped up on that effort when just failing to nail John Gosden's Free Trip over seven furlongs at Doncaster a fortnight ago.
Lynda's raider now tackles one mile for the first time, a distance that should by rights bring about sufficient improvement for a welcome return to the winners' enclosure.
In the closing Rectangle Group Handicap, Ringside Jack (4.45) can make full use of his featherweight by scooping the £8,000 contest for Middleham handler, Chris Fairhurst.
"He was cantering at the two-mile marker, but didn't quite get home," said Chris after his gelding filled third spot at Pontefract over 18 furlongs last Tuesday.
Fairhurst has responded by dropping Ringside Jack down to a-mile-and-six-furlongs, a shrewd move likely to reap handsome rewards in the hands of Jamie McKay.
The pick of the jumps action is at Carlisle where Granite Steps (3.25) is strongly fancied to follow his recent track and trip triumph.
Nicky Richards has had to be patient with Granite Steps, who gallantly came back from a lengthy absence to collect the spoils at the Cumbrian course late last month.
He looks a pretty smart chaser in the making, meanwhile the Robert Elliott Memorial Handicap Hurdle is a more immediate target for the talented eight-year-old.
* Kieren Fallon has six mounts at Kempton on his return from suspension for failing to ride out for first place on Ballinger Ridge at Lingfield last month.
Fallon, a 4-7 shot to retain his champion jockey's title, has been out of action for allowing Rye to grab victory in the shadow of the post in the betdirect.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Fallon has his first ride back on Barry Hills' Spring Surprise in the opening turftours.com Masaka Stakes, which can be seen live on Channel 4.
Dumaran follows next in the day's main event with the jockey on Gulf in the two-mile alanbrazilracing.com Queen's Prize.
He will then be aboard Gravardlax for Brian Meehan in the Listed alanbrazilracing.com Easter Stakes, for which seven have been declared.
Another mount for Meehan beckons in the five-furlong turftours.com EBF Maiden Stakes where Fallon is on Leonalto.
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