Teal hails Cieren Fallon for making 'big decision' to give up Oxted ride

Ryan Moore will ride July Cup hero Oxted for the first time when he makes his British seasonal reappearance in Thursday's bet365 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket after Cieren Fallon conceded that he did not feel 100 per cent after riding work on Wednesday morning.

Fallon enjoyed a breakthrough success aboard Oxted in the July Cup last summer and had hoped to be in shape to resume the partnership after recovering from a fall at Lingfield on Saturday.

He was able to take the mount on Riot for John and Thady Gosden on Tuesday but a day later confirmed to trainer Roger Teal that giving up the mount on Oxted would be the right thing to do.

Roger Teal will start Oxted off in the Abernant Stakes on Thursday after his run on dirt in Riyadh back in FebruaryCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He had a fall last week at Lingfield and he was a bit bruised and battered," said Teal on Wednesday. "He thought he would be fine, went for physio yesterday morning and felt good. When he rode yesterday he said he was okay, but then after riding out this morning he didn’t feel 100 per cent.

"To be fair to Cieren, he said he didn't want to jeopardise the horse if he wasn't 100 per cent. He rang me this morning and discussed it. It was a big decision for Cieren to make and fair play to the lad, I think he's made the right call. He'll ride him next time."

Oxted is a 4-6 chance in his bid for a repeat success in the Group 3.

Abernant field and betting

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