Fallon on bail again

Kieren Fallon has been released on bail again until March next year after spending yesterday being questioned by police.

The six-times champion jockey arrived at Bishopsgate police station, London, with his legal representative earlier in the day to answer bail in connection with allegations of race fixing.

A spokesman for City of London Police said: "The person returned on bail today has now been bailed to early next year."

Fallon left the station from a rear entrance just after 7.15pm in a black Volkswagen people carrier with blacked-out windows, and surrounded by associates.

The former champion jockey had just returned to Britain after winning three consecutive Group One races at Longchamp on Sunday, including his first victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Hurricane Run, trained by Andre Fabre.

Fallon, who was arrested in September 2004 and denies all wrongdoing, has previously said he was questioned about involvement with fellow suspect Miles Rodgers, formerly a director of the Platinum Racing Club syndicate.

Jockeys Robert Winston, Darren Williams, Fergal Lynch and Paul Bradley have also been arrested as part of the investigation, along with trainers Karl Burke and Alan Berry.

All those named deny any wrongdoing.

Twenty people are due to answer bail over the next month. Five others have had their bail extended. Jockey Gyles Parkin has said the case against him has been dropped. Another person has also been released without charge.

During the investigation, more than 130 police officers raided 19 addresses across Suffolk, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Hertfordshire.

The inquiry is examining allegations of fixing involving more than 80 races over two years.

The verdict of the Jockey Club is expected today in the case of Gary Carter.

The former jockey, who was not represented at last week's final hearing, faces being warned off for many years if found guilty of passing information to punter Christopher Coleman, who was warned off by the Club in 2003.

Meanwhile, Noel Meade is hoping for some cut in the ground for Watson Lake, who has a choice of engagements at the weekend.

The seven-year-old gelding holds entries in the Group Two National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday and the Sherry Fitzgerald O'Malley Chase at Limerick on Sunday.

"Of the two options I would prefer to run Watson Lake at Limerick but it all depends on the ground," said the Navan trainer.

"It looks on the fast side at both courses. We want some ease."

Watson Lake has not raced since being beaten a length by War Of Attrition at Punchestown in April when he looked the likely winner until making a mistake at the second-last fence.

War Of Attrition, trained by Mouse Morris, is also in the Gowran race, while Meade has Sir Oj and Always in the same contest.

"The going is crucial and we'll see what other people are doing but I don't think Sir Oj will be running anyway," added Meade.

"If the race cut up it's possible Always might run."