Fallon is off mark

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon got off the mark for the year in Britain when Swift lived up to his name at Southwell yesterday.

The 5 to 1 shot - trained on the track by Mark Polglase - led over two furlongs out in the Tuxford Handicap and came home two lengths clear of Linea-G, the favourite.

It was the last of Fallon's four rides on the all-weather track, the champion having jetted back from a highly-successful stint in Hong Kong in plenty of time to ride at Wolverhampton on Saturday night, where he was beaten on both his mounts.

"It's always good to get that first win under your belt," he said, as he returned to the winner's enclosure. "I'll be trying to ride as many winners as possible. You have to set yourself a target. Mine will be to top the 200-winner mark again," he added.

Polglase was delighted and said: "It's always good to have the champ on your side. Kieren had ridden this horse once before when he failed to get home in heavy ground on the turf."

Norman Williamson was within inches of a treble at Fontwell yesterday for he won on Dancing Paddy and Rosey Boy, a 10 to 1 double, and was beaten only a short head on Weather Wise.

Amateur rider Noel Fehily was suspended for four days (March 17th-20th) for excessive use of his whip on Fountain Bid who was fourth in the race won by Dancing Paddy and will thus have to miss the last two days at Cheltenham.

Oliver Sherwood headed north to Musselburgh to avoid the rain and struck with his first two runners at as Charming Girl and Citizen Kane (formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien) gave him a 24 to 1 double yesterday.

Entries for Saturday's Imperial Cup Hurdle at Sandown: Alabang, Balladur, Ballysicyos, Call My Guest, Challenger du Luc, Coulthard, Davoski, Dr Jazz, Effectual, Fadalko, Falmouth Bay, Good Vibes, Heros Fatal, Hot 'n Saucy, In Question, Kinnescash, Midnight Legend, Real Estate, Regency Rake, Road Racer, Samanid, Serenus, Siren Song, Sir Talbot, Time For Action (25).