Fallon set to spend the winter in US

News: Kieren Fallon is reportedly on the brink of spending another winter in the USA, this time riding at the prestigious Santa Anita track in Los Angeles from St Stephen's Day on.

The American trade paper, Daily Racing Form, has reported the number one Ballydoyle jockey will be in action at Santa Anita until the spring when he will return to ride in Ireland.

"He is going to try and stay as long as he can," the paper quotes Fallon's US agent as saying. He added that he has already booked one ride for Fallon on St Stephen's Day.

Fallon rode briefly at Gulfstream Park in Florida last winter and there was some speculation he might try to carve out a new career in America. In February, however, he signed up to the powerful Coolmore team which led to a very successful 2005 campaign.

The jockey doesn't underestimate the importance of riding in the US however, and has said in the past: "I always come back with more confidence."

Fallon last rode at Santa Anita in 2003 when he won the Breeders' Cup fillies and mares on Islington.

Tomorrow's fixture at Thurles will have the former champion jockey Barry Geraghty in attendance and it could be a successful afternoon for him.

Geraghty is on Dalton in the Listed Hurdle and although the ratings indicate the O'Grady horse has it to do against the likes of Rocket Ship, Dalton may be a safer option in the testing conditions.

Geraghty has an interesting chance in the second maiden hurdle with War General while A Gem Of A Story looks the one in the novice handicap having returned from an absence at Downpatrick on Wednesday.