Shady sport of kings on trial

The dark shadow hanging over racing is set to linger throughout 2007.

The fraud trial of Kieren Fallon and fellow jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams is expected to last at least three months from its starting date of September 24.

The bedevilled Fallon, serving a six-month ban for testing positive for cocaine, will be free to race in Ireland and France from June onwards.

However, trainer Aidan O'Brien will once again be relying on substitutes for much of the season.

Fallon will miss Holy Roman Emperor's attempt to win the 2,000 Guineas, in which his main opponent appears to be Jim Bolger's Teofilo, also a major fancy for the Derby. Bolger has the leading Classic hope among the fillies with Finsceal Beo.

A transformed Doncaster, fresh from its £10million facelift, will be back to stage the St Leger.

The domestic National Hunt scene is dominated by Kauto Star.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old captured the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and is as short as 5-4 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.