RACING:Six-times champion Kieren Fallon is one of three jockeys who will face trial next autumn in connection with the City of London police investigation into alleged race-fixing.

The 41-year-old Clareman has been charged with conspiracy to defraud customers of Internet betting exchange Betfair as part of a two-year police probe in Britain.

Fallon has been banned from riding in Britain pending the trial but has continued to operate in Ireland. In November he was banned from riding in France for six months after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

Fallon, stable jockey to the Coolmore operation, where he rides for Aidan O'Brien, was refused permission to ride in the Arlington Million in Chicago in August. He also abandoned attempts to persuade the Kentucky authorities to allow him to take part in the Breeders' Cup meeting at Churchill Downs in November and was refused permission to ride in Hong Kong.

Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams are the other jockeys due to stand trial along with several other defendants. Mr Justice Forbes yesterday fixed the date of the trial at the Old Bailey to September 24th next year.

Fallon was not at the hearing. Fallon (41), Lynch (28), Williams (27), Miles Rodgers (37), Philip Sherkle (38), and Shaun Lynch, (37) deny the allegations.

They are charged with conspiracy to defraud between December 2002 and September 2004, by interfering with the running of horses to ensure they lost races, defrauding punters with internet betting firm Betfair.

Rodgers, a former racing syndicate director, was also accused of concealing the proceeds of crime.