News round-up: Food poisoning was blamed yesterday for Kieren Fallon's absence from the Curragh after the top jockey also missed out on his intended Grade One ride on Ad Valorem in America on Saturday night.

Fallon was at Keeneland for the Shadwell Turf Mile but cried off at the last minute and was replaced by the US rider Mike Smith. Ad Valorem ultimately finished only sixth behind the outsider Host.

Fallon was scheduled to ride four horses for Aidan O'Brien yesterday but the Ballydoyle trainer reported: "He got food poisoning, a real dose apparently, and had to be taken to hospital. But we hope he will be coming home later on today."

Earlier Fallon's agent had blamed dehydration for his problems in America.

The jockey, however, won't be able to team up with the O'Brien-trained filly Briolette in this afternoon's Listed Harvest Stakes at Windsor. Darryll Holland will instead ride the filly who was runner up to Ouija Board at Newmarket last time.

"She ran a stormer at Newmarket and seems to be in real good form," said O'Brien who also outlined plans for Saturday's Champions Day at Newmarket.

"The plan is for Oratorio to run in the Champion Stakes and either Horatio Nelson or George Washington will go for the Dewhurst. We haven't decided yet but one of those will run. We could also run Queen Cleopatra in the Rockfel Stakes."

Dermot Weld also confirmed yesterday that Vinnie Roe left Ireland on Saturday for a third attempt at the Melbourne Cup.

The four times Irish Leger hero flew from Heathrow to Australia via Copenhagen, Dubai and Singapore in a journey that will take most of two days.

"He has come out of the Irish Leger exceptionally well and I couldn't be happier with his preparation," said Weld.

One horse who will not be appearing this winter is the 2004 French Champion Hurdle winner Rule Supreme, who had been prominent in the betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"He has developed a leg problem and will need plenty of time to recover. He is out for the season," said trainer Willie Mullins.