Kinane keeps Galileo ride

Kinane on board Galileo at Epsom

Michael Kinane has won a legal fight to keep the ride on hot favourite Galileo in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

The jockey lost his appeal on Friday against a riding ban, but successfully applied for a temporary injunction at the High Court in Dublin to lift the penalty.

His marathon appeal against a two-day suspension was initially rejected by the Turf Club in Ireland on Friday, ruling him out of the £750,000 contest.

The Irish jockey's two-day ban for careless riding came into force on Friday at the start of Ascot's big three-day meeting.

But in a dramatic turnaround, he will now be on board the odds-on favourite.

  How the pre- race drama unfolded

18 July: Kinane given two-day ban for careless riding at Leopardstown

26 July: Appeal against the ban adjourned by Turf Club

27 July, 1100: Hearing starts to consider appeal

27 July, 1300: Appeal rejected. Kinane misses ride

27 July, 1615: Wins High Court injunction. Kinane will ride Galileo

Kinane's determination to be on the dual Derby winner shows how highly he rates the horse.

Galileo will be viewed as a truly great champion if he triumphs on Saturday.

The jockey's appeal against the ban was initially due to be heard by the Turf Club in Ireland on Thursday evening, but two jockeys due to give evidence were not available.

It was adjourned until Friday morning, where the appeal was rejected after a hearing lasting an hout-and-three quarters.

Stony-faced Kinane left the hearing at the Turf Club's Curragh headquarters with his solicitor Andrew Coonan.

"We've no comment at this stage," said Coonan.

After the result of the appeal was announced Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of the Turf Club, said: "As far as I am aware that is the end of the matter.

"There was a lot of legal debate - there were five lawyers in the room."

But the Kinane team headed straight for the High Court, about 40 miles away, where they secured the legal victory.

It's great that Mick rides the horse now

  Galileo trainer Aidan O'Brien

Kinane was granted an interim injunction before Mr Justice Brian McCracken in the Dublin High Court until 15 August.

Kinane has been in the saddle for both of Galileo's Derby wins, at Epsom and The Curragh.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien had been looking for a replacement rider, with Johnny Murtagh favourite to take over.

Galileo was among the final 12 declarations on Thursday for the King George, which is shaping up to be the race of the season so far.

Many observers see the race as a two-horse battle, with three-year-old Galileo slugging it out with Fantastic Light, two years his senior.

But French Derby winner Anabaa Blue, Italian Derby victor Morshdi and Royal Ascot scorer Storming Home are among other leading contenders.

Kinane picked up the suspension at Leopardstown last week for careless riding on Sophisticat. It was his first offence for 18 months.

The case mirrors that of former champion jockey Kieren Fallon, who missed the ride on Golan in last month's Epsom Derby.

Golan finished second to Galileo in England, and third in Ireland.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, 1550 BST Saturday, is live on BBC TV and Five Live.