Born: 22 Feb 1965 Nationality: Irish Height: 5ft 3" Champion jockey: Six times (1997-1999, 2001-2003) English Classic wins: 11 (All except St Leger)

The Irish rider, winner of six jockey titles in the UK, has few equals in the saddle and boasts a habit of bouncing back from troubles.

Patient yet courageous, he is known for being able to get more out of horses than some of his weighing room rivals.

He claimed the first of three successive jockey titles in 1997.

But his winning run was halted by a career-threatening shoulder injury at Royal Ascot in 2000.

In 2001, the County Clare-born rider battled back to fitness and top form to claim the next three titles.

He was odds-on to win a seventh championship despite controversy ahead of the 2004 turf season, but lost out to Frankie Dettori.

Fallon was suspended for 21 days in March 2004 for failing to ride to the finish in a race at Lingfield.

The Jockey Club later decided not to pursue an inquiry into allegations made by the News of the World newspaper of bringing racing into disrepute.

Fallon was arrested in September 2004 and released on bail as part of a City of London police inquiry into race-fixing claims. He strenously denied any wrongdoing.

In July 2006, the jockey was among 11 people charged with offences relating to allegations of races being fixed between December 2002 and September 2004.

During his career, Fallon has enjoyed partnerships with three of racing's most successful trainers - Henry Cecil, Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien.

The jockey claimed the first of three Epsom Derby successes when he won the big race for Cecil on Oath in 1999.

He was successful again for Stoute in 2003 with Kris Kin and 2004 on North Light.

In early 2005, Fallon shocked racing by leaving Stoute to join top Irish trainer O'Brien.