As a jockey, Kieren Fallon had a unique rapport with his horses, often coaxing them to victory when others had struggled. His skill and commitment also made him a punter’s favourite, while his magnificent record, which saw him crowned Champion Jockey six times, ensured he became one of racing’s biggest stars.
Having moved from Ireland to the UK to make his name, Fallon’s combative nature brought him to the attention of the racing authorities. When he dragged a rival jockey off his mount in 1994, he began a series of run-ins that would eventually see him on trial accused of race fixing, and while the judge ruled there was no case to answer, the damage to Fallon's career and reputation had already been done.
In his new autobiography, Form, Fallon provides a searingly honest account of his life and the pressures he faced to get to the top of his sport. He worked with some of the best trainers, winning all the biggest races, but true happiness only really came to him on the back of a horse – a joy he still feels now that he has retired from racing, as he rides work early in the morning.
Brutally honest as well as entertaining, this is a unique sporting memoir.