Racing: Fallon ready for comeback after 18-month drug ban

Kieren Fallon will be free to return to race riding on Saturday after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) reissued him with a jockey's licence.

Fallon is set to make his comeback from an 18-month drug ban at Lingfield on Friday afternoon before heading to Kempton for its evening meeting.

"Kieren was with the committee for about half an hour and the path is now clear for him to return to race riding from the end of the week," BHA spokesman Paul Struthers told the Racing Post.

Leading trainer Luca Cumani is among those throwing his support behind Fallon. Cumani is also considering a more formal arrangement between the stable and Fallon who has been riding work at Bedford House for more than a week.

In other British news trainer John Oxx is confident Sea The Stars' tough season's schedule won't prevent him from claiming his fifth group one in Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

In a bid to further embellish a season that has yielded landmark wins in the 2000 Guineas, Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International, Sea The Stars could face Fame And Glory and Mastercraftsman.

However, the participation of Sea The Stars remains in the balance with Oxx warning that if Leopardstown "gets even half the rain that is forecast" then he may not run.

- AAP