Fallon claims branded 'ridiculous'

Last Modified: 10 Oct 2007
Source: ITN

Lawyers acting for racing jockey Kieren Fallon have branded claims he was deliberately trying to lose races as "simply ridiculous".

Fallon and five others are accused of plotting to make 27 horses lose in order to win money on bets.

It alleged that the six defendants were involved in a conspiracy with others between December 2002 and September 2004 to defraud Betfair customers and other punters.

Fallon listened a few feet away as his barrister, John Kelsey-Fry QC told a jury at the Old Bailey: "The very fact that a man described as the greatest jockey of his generation ends up unable to help winning when he is trying to lose is simply ridiculous."

The jockey had, in fact, won more races - an average 29.4 per cent - during the time of the alleged conspiracy, than the 19 per cent he normally averaged, the court heard.

Mr Kelsey-Fry said this meant Fallon's winning rides were 150 times higher "when he was trying to lose than when he was trying to win".

Fallon, 42, from Tipperary in Ireland, Fergal Lynch, 29, of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and Darren Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the charges.

Shaun Lynch, 37, from Belfast, former racing syndicate director Miles Rodgers, 38, of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, and Philip Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, also plead not guilty.

Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime. All the defendants are on bail.

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