Comfortable in the saddle, he was less so out of it

David Ashforth, who crossed paths with Kieren Fallon many times over the last two decades, delivers his personal take on the complex personality behind the multiple champion

I first met Kieren Fallon 20 years ago between races at Newmarket. Then more than now jockeys were wary and guarded with journalists. So that was the first surprise; Fallon was not. He was open, natural, helpful and generous with his time – and unguarded.

Fallon has always been different. Not different on horseback, except in degree – more competitive, more determined, more skillful, better able to settle a horse, better tactically, more daring, more patient, better at galvanising horses, more useful on the gallops in the morning than most jockeys. At his best he was a strong, confident irresistible force. There was an inevitability about his victories; he could not be denied.