Top trainer Stoute in work riding offer to Fallon

LONDON (Reuters) - Kieren Fallon, banned from racing for 18 months after failing a drugs test in France, could be riding exercise work with horses trained by top Newmarket handler Michael Stoute.

Fallon, 42, a former stable jockey to Stoute, won the Epsom Derby for him on Kris Kin in 2003 and North Light the following year.

One newspaper report on Wednesday suggested Fallon would act as an assistant trainer with Stoute over the coming year.

However, a statement from the stable issued on behalf of the trainer said merely: "I had a discussion with Kieren Fallon last night. If he bases himself in Newmarket I would be delighted to have him ride work on a regular basis."

Fallon has been attached to the Coolmore operation in his native Ireland since 2005, riding horses trained by Aidan O'Brien but has been replaced for the coming season by compatriot Johnny Murtagh.

Fallon, cleared in December in a race-fixing trial, has appealed against his doping ban which was imposed last month by the French authorities after a race at Deauville in August.

(Writing by Dave Thompson, Editing by Clare Fallon)