Fallon and Fehily show on Town Moor as big names turn out for charity

3.35 Doncaster
Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes | 1m | 3yo+ | Sky

Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon returns to the saddle for the first time since his retirement in 2016 in the tenth running of the Legends race, in which he partners the fancied Nigel Tinkler-trained Kilbaha Lady.

And the three-time Derby winner is particularly looking forward to sharing the weighing room with his son Cieren, who is due to ride in the next race on the card for Godolphin.

Since quitting race-riding three years ago, Fallon senior has kept busy by riding work for Saeed bin Suroor in Newmarket and Dubai over the last two seasons and won't lack for fitness.

Fallon, 54, who has ridden more than 2,200 winners worldwide, partners the consistent Kilbaha Lady, who is usually effective at trips in excess of this straight mile, so will be doing all her best work at the finish.

Fallon said: "I'm looking forward to the race, which is all for good causes, but I'm under no illusions that race-riding is a different ball game to riding work. I keep myself in shape but my horse is a mile-and-a-quarter horse so may need some pushing rather than a speed horse that doesn't. "

Fallon, who will also ride in the Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland on Sunday, added: "I'm also looking forward to sharing the weighing room for the first time with my son Cieren as it will probably never happen again. He has been winding me up about coming out of retirement and I'll be making an extra effort."

Returning from a more recent retirement than Fallon is Noel Fehily, who rides for the first time on the Flat for "as long as I can remember" on the Derek Shaw-trained Hammer Gun, who beat only one home in the race a year ago.

Andrew Thornton on Detachment (right) finishes runner-up last year but hopes to go one better this year on Valley Of FireCredit: Edward Whitaker

The twice Champion Hurdle-winning rider has been riding out for Harry Fry in recent months to keep in trim for his assignment and is looking forward to raising some cash for the Northern Racing College and Jack Berry House.

Fehily, who quit the saddle in March this year, said: "From the day of my retirement I've had my name put forward for this race. I'm ready for it and it's all for a good cause. It's the first time for as long as I can remember that I've ridden on the Flat and it will be a good bit of fun, but I'd love to win it."

Of his mount, Fehily said: "I know he got beat in it last year but he has won over course and distance and I'll give it a good go. My draw (six) is not bad and it's around some of the fancied ones."

Andrew Thornton, who was runner-up a year ago on the Les Eyre-trained Detachment, is aiming to go one better on Valley Of Fire for the yard.

He said: "I may have gone a bit soon last year, but I was riding to orders and I think they moved the winning post! I look to have chances again but the main plus is that I'm drawn on the stands' rail (17), which is well away from Timmy Murphy on Ascot Week (one) as I sat next to him for 15 years in the weighing room, so have no desire to be close to him again!"

Place bets without leaving our fastest ever app. Get the same prices, same offers, live video - every race, every day. Update to our fastest ever free app here