Fallon out to star in Premiership shoot-out
Champion jockey Kieren Fallon will be hoping to score for both Manchester United and Arsenal as the inaugural ‘Football Furlong’ event takes place at Haydock on Sunday.
The event comprises six races, each of them limited to 10 runners, with each horse representing a Premiership football club and racing in the team’s shirt colours.
Fallon will ride Arsenal’s representative Golden Dixie in the second race, while in the fourth race he will be on Silverhay, who runs for the Gunners’ arch-rivals Manchester United.
Newcastle United striker Lomana LuaLua will be on hand at the Merseyside track to see Fallon partner his namesake, the David Barron-trained Lualua, in the opener, in which the duo will be representing Southampton.
LuaLua’s Newcastle team-mate Jonathan Woodgate will also be at the track and the pair can cheer on Fallon when he rides Santiburi Lad for the St James’ Park club in the fifth race.
Blackburn’s Matt Jansen, Everton’s Francis Jeffers and Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler, who owns a number of National Hunt horses in partnership with team-mate Steve McManaman, will also be on hand to sign autographs at the event, which will benefit the NSPCC.
All the teams will be represented three times during the afternoon – except Norwich City and Southampton, who are without runners in the final contest as it has attracted only eight horses.
Teams are awarded 10 points for first place down to one for 10th place in each race.
Norwich and Southampton have been awarded two and one respectively for the last race, which might seal their fate as the club with the most points will receive the Paddy Power Football Furlong Trophy.
A plethora of soap stars will also be in attendance, with Eastenders’ Natalie Cassidy (Sonia) and Gary Beadle (Paul) rubbing shoulders with Coronation Street’s Steve Arnold (Ashley), Alan Halsall (Tyrone) and Malcolm Hebdon (Norris), among others.
Adam Waterworth, managing director of Haydock Park, said: “It’s fantastic for both racing and football fans in the north west that Haydock Park has been chosen for this new event.
“Our Sunday family fun day every year in July has always been popular, and Paddy Power Football Furlong promises to build on that.”
A range of other attractions will also be on offer, including opportunities to be photographed with the FA Cup, and mini-exhibition football matches.
Children are also invited to go to the track at 11.30am for a soccer school run by professional coaches.
