Six-time champion jockey, Kieren Fallon, officially announced his retirement from the saddle on Monday morning.

A native of Co Clare, Fallon (51) enjoyed a brilliant, if at times controversial racing career. His major triumphs including three Epsom Derby wins; two Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe victories and two Breeders Cup wins as well as 16 British Classic triumphs and 30 Royal Ascot winners. Fallon’s last ride in public came at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend when he partnered the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Magical Fire to a fifth place finish.

Fallon, who returned home this season after a long spell riding in America, suffered a fall on the gallops last week which apparently helped him to make up his mind to retire from race-riding.

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Michael O’Callaghan said: “He had a fall on the gallops last week and he just said he’s 51 now and doesn’t bounce like he used to.”

Meanwhile, Turf Club chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick cited depression as a reason why Fallon decided to call time on his racing career.

Dr McGoldrick said: “Kieren is suffering from severe depression. When he came to me before getting his licence to ride this year, it was clear he was suffering from depression and I treated him with anti-depressants.

“He told me that he hadn’t intended to make a comeback but decided to do so having been encouraged by Michael (O’Callaghan). But he rang me last week and said his situation had got worse. I met him and on Sunday he told me he didn’t feel strong enough to speak to anyone in the media about his situation and asked me to speak on his behalf.

“He told me that he has lost the motivation to continue his riding career and wanted people to know about his decision to retire. He said it was time to move on once his depression has been managed.

“In recent years, he found himself suffering from profound fatigue but nothing physically wrong was found when doctors examined him.”

Lynam Treble

Meanwhile, a quiet week’s racing domestically meant that last Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes was the focal point of the flat action and despite going off a strongly supported odds on favourite, Aidan O’Brien’s The Gurkha had to settle for second behind Hawkbill.

When he moved to the front a quarter of a mile from home, The Gurkha looked set to take charge of this race but he just couldn’t fend off his aforementioned opponent and eventually came up half a length short. In two starts since his brilliant French 2000 Guineas triumph, The Gurkha has had to settle for the runner-up spot.

In France he looked a multiple Group 1 winner waiting to happen so it will be interesting to see if he can now exact revenge on his Ascot conqueror Galileo Gold when he comes back to a mile for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Exceptional progress

Meanwhile, Hawkbill has progressed exceptionally well this term and this victory makes him one of the forerunners for Irish Champion Stakes glory in two months’ time.

Last Sunday was one to savour for Eddie Lynam who remarkably sent out the first treble of his 33-year training career at Naas last Sunday.

Earlier in the week, Bellewstown’s thee-day festival took centre stage where mention must be made of Tribal Path and his young Naul-based trainer Damien English. In winning a mile handicap last Friday, Tribal Path was notching up his fourth handicap win in succession, which is quite a feat in Ireland.

Furthermore, his tally for 2016 stands at six wins as he struck twice on the polytrack at Dundalk during the winter. A thoroughly likeable front-runner, Tribal Path has been a terrific standard bearer for English and there could yet be more to come from him. One of the big handicaps at Galway could really play to his strengths as his relentless front-running style and his ability to handle any type of ground will make him a force to be reckoned with.