Kieren Fallon may sue owner David Reynolds over Lingfield Park punch

Kieren Fallon is taking legal advice on the possibility of a civil law suit against David Reynolds, the racehorse owner who punched him at Lingfield on Saturday. The six-times champion jockey is understood to be concerned about the possibility of copycat incidents and may sue Reynolds for damages, even though he could hope for little in the way of compensation. The incident followed the second race at the Surrey course, in which Fallon was caught up in scrimmaging with others including The Scorching Wind, part-owned by Reynolds. Both finished well beaten and Reynolds, apparently blaming Fallon's mount for interfering with his horse, attacked the jockey as he unsaddled. Fallon, who was cleared of causing interference by the stewards, put a brave face on the assault at the time, saying Reynolds "hits like a girl" and "needs to take boxing lessons". However, the jockey's solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said yesterday that Fallon blames Reynolds for loosening two of his teeth. "It seems curious that the police were not called, in the circumstances," Stewart-Moore added. The stewards interviewed Reynolds before the owner was escorted from the track. "As all individuals involved were governed by the rules of racing, it was felt that the correct route to deal with it was through the stewards," said a spokesman for the British Horseracing Authority. "Had it been a racegoer who was involved, or had the assault been more serious, it would have been different." Reynolds has since contacted the Racing Post to apologise to others who were caught up in the incident, but specifically excluded Fallon. He could not be contacted yesterday and Stuart Williams, who trains The Scorching Wind, said the owner was unlikely to offer further public comment. The BHA has yet to decide on what charges should be made against Reynolds. He faces a ban from the sport of up to a year if found guilty of violent conduct. Iris De Balme, a former Scottish National winner, has been scratched from next month's Grand National after being pulled up at Uttoxeter on Saturday. New Alco is also out of the Aintree race after being well beaten at Cheltenham last week. Both horses have also been scratched from Sandown's Bet365 Gold Cup at the end of April.