From the racingpost us Irish are great at cheering on one of our own:
KIEREN FALLON showed that a six-month absence from race-riding had not blunted his talent as he made a winning return to action at Tipperary on Thursday night.
A lone voice in the sunshine shouted: "You were never away, Kieren" as the Fallon roadshow resumed with victory on Royal Ascot-bound two-year-old The Bogberry.
The six-time British champion was most definitely away, banned from riding since December until Thursday after failing a drugs test in France.
But he wasted no time in showing that he was back.
A late surge saw the Ballydoyle juvenile, who started 4-7 favourite for the 7 1/2f juvenile maiden, score by a neck as Fallon, riding in his first race since finishing seventh on Yeats in the Melbourne Cup in November, made the perfect start to the latest chapter of his successful but controversial career.
O'Brien, who is aiming The Bogberry at the Chesham Stakes, summed up the occasion when saying: "It's great to have him back and he certainly hasn't lost it."
Last into the parade ring for thefirst race on the card, Fallon was cheered en route from the weigh room as he stopped to sign a few autographs. And it was more of the same when he returned to the number one spot.
"It's a great feeling to be back and having the public here behind youmakes the job that much easier," said Fallon who claimed that he was "very confident" of being able to ride in Britain again in the near future.
Fallon said: "Riding out four lots a day at Ballydoyle and going to Canada for a break and toride some track work at Woodbine helped keep me focused. I had a minor problem with a foot but it was nothing serious and I'm fine now.
"All along I've wanted to get back riding in England more than anything else and I'm hoping that will be possible. I should know after the weekend."
Fallon added: "As far as I'm concerned the season is really only starting. I missed not being able to ride at Epsom and it would be great to be able to ride at Ascot.
"I was impressed with Authorized but I would like to have been on Eagle Mountain and although he got shuffled back during the race I think I wouldn't have had to come from so far back if I was on him."
The attendance of just short of 3,000 was up about 800 on the corresponding meeting last year, according to racecourse manager Peter Roe.
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