Fallon v Dettori

The race for the 2004 Flat jockeys' title has been one of the closest for years.

A rejuvenated Frankie Dettori is set to end the stranglehold of champion Kieren Fallon.

Fallon has won the championship six times in the past seven years but has conceded Dettori is virtually certain to claim his first title since 1995.

The exciting battle has been made all the more intriguing by the polar natures of the two protagonists.

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While Dettori is an international superstar who wears his heart on his sleeve, the media-shy Fallon remains inscrutable in both victory and defeat.

He has won many plaudits for his skill in the saddle but has also hit the headlines for less savoury reasons.

KIEREN FALLON Age: 39 Main trainer: Sir Michael Stoute Odds for title at start of season: 1-3 Current number of winners: 172

While rival Dettori is an honorary MBE, Fallon has had brushes with authority and run-ins with the stewards.

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

He is still awaiting a Jockey Club hearing into News of the World allegations of bringing racing into disrepute, which he denies.

And last month he was arrested, and released on police bail, as part of an investigation into allegations of race-fixing.

But Fallon is as tough as teak and his determination has always seen him bounce back from setbacks.

His iron will was never more in evidence than in his comeback from a career-threatening shoulder injury at Royal Ascot in 2000 - he has won the championship every year since.

However, Dettori gained the upper hand in this year's race and Fallon looks resigned to fighting to win the title back in 2005.

Report: Fallon misses rides after fall

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The exuberant Italian loves the limelight. He is a former A Question of Sport captain who only gave up his TV commitments to give his all to pursuing the title.

A regular on the chat show circuit, Dettori has an autobiography out and has even launched his own range of pizzas and ice cream and a London restaurant.

A household name even outside of racing, he is the housewives' favourite - the 'Frankie factor' can often bring down the betting odds on a horse and his 'Magnificent Seven' winners at Ascot in 1996 cost the bookies millions.

FRANKIE DETTORI Age: 33 Main trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Odds for title at start of season: 50-1 Current number of winners: 192

When Dettori wins a big race, he sparks a rush to the winner's enclosure to witness his trademark 'flying dismount'.

Something of a tearaway when he was younger, Dettori has now adopted a squeaky-clean image as devoted family man - wife Catherine is expecting their fifth child.

After his second title, Dettori decided to concentrate more on big races and gave up haring around the country to pick up rides.

It was a policy he pursued even more after escaping death in a plane crash in Newmarket in 2000, an incident which he admits dampened his motivation as a jockey.

It appeared to confirm his career was on the downward slope and while Fallon's commitment has never been called into question, there are those who have queried Dettori's drive.

That is something the sensitive Italian is in the process of correcting.

Report: Dettori moves towards title