Fallon escapes serious injury

Racing: Kieren Fallon has been given a clean bill of health following a nasty incident in the paddock at Newbury

Racing:Kieren Fallon has been given a clean bill of health following a nasty incident in the paddock at Newbury. The six-times champion jockey was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after being kicked in the build-up to the Bridget Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Fallon was about to take the mount aboard Mick Channon's Ayam Zainah today when Alioonagh bolted, causing mayhem in the paddock.

The Matthew Salaman-trained daughter of Giant's Causeway upset several of her rivals and caused Fallon's mount to kick out in alarm and strike the jockey.

The 45-year-old fell to the ground and lay at the side of the parade ring surrounded by black screens while being attended to by medical staff.

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Initial fears of a break to his leg proved unfounded as precautionary X-rays came back clear and Fallon's agent Dave Pollington is not expecting the rider to spend too long on the sidelines.

"There's nothing broken and he's been discharged from hospital," confirmed Pollington.

"He's left hospital, the X-rays have all come back clear and he just has some severe bruising.

"I don't know whether he will be riding on Saturday or when he will be back, we haven't got that far yet.

"You know Kieren though, he will be back just as soon as it is possible."

Alioonagh was being led around the parade ring by two handlers before bolting, and she later played up at the start causing her withdrawal from the seven-furlong race.

Chris Catlin took over from Fallon aboard Channon's filly and she went on to fill 10th place.

Channon said: "She's an absolute pussycat at home and would never normally kick out. She became upset by the loose horse running past and has kicked out and hit Kieren.