3 minute read

2023 champion apprentice Billy Loughnane is looking forward to collecting his trophy at Ascot on Saturday after what the talented teenager describes has been a “crazy” season.

Billy Loughnane quickly hit the headlines when bursting onto the scene last winter and the seventeen-year-old showed no signs of slowing down once into the turf season good and proper. Loughnane quickly made a seamless transition to riding on the turf and soon found himself almost twenty winners clear of last year's champion apprentice Benoit de la Sayette.

The expected lull of winners after losing his claim in rapid fashion never appeared and Loughnane became a regular face in the winners' enclosure, passing the impressive 100-mark onboard Evasive Power for trainer Robyn Brisland at Brighton last month.

Billy, son of trainer Mark Loughnane, is hoping to be in action at Ascot on Saturday, allowing the teenage sensation to be on hand to pick up his 2023 champion apprentice trophy.

He said: "I'm hoping to have a ride in the Balmoral, so I'll be there on Saturday,"

"It's been a crazy season, really. We've had a good year and I've had a lot of people supporting me, it's been great."

Twenty-three of Loughnane's 110 career winners have come for his father Mark, but what is perhaps more impressive is that he's already ridden for over 100 different trainers in under a twelve-month period.

"Dad was very good to me at the start and obviously supported me a lot early in my career, but I've also had a lot of support from a lot of other trainers," he said.

"The main thing is they have kept using me even after I lost my claim, so it's been great, and I must thank everyone for the support.

"It's always a worry for any jockey once you lose your claim but thankfully most of the trainers have stood by me and I'm very grateful."

Like most jockeys, Loughnane has seemingly induced the winning bug and cannot wait to get started on his new goals and ambitions.

"I think for the immediate future, I just want to ride as many winners as I can. My goal for next year is to ride 100 winners in the year. It will be very hard, obviously, without having a claim, but if I can manage that it will be great," said Loughnane.

"On top of that, if I could ride a Group or even a Listed winner along the way that would top it off.

"All jockeys are the same, hopefully, I can keep the numbers going but then you've got to look at raising the quality of the horses you ride. Hopefully, the more winners I ride, the more the quality will go up.

One trainer that Loughnane has built up quite the relationship with is Hamilton Road trainer George Boughey, who has already supplied the youngster with 60 rides. He's ridden eleven winners for the established Newmarket handler, including landing the Apprentices' Derby handicap at Epsom earlier this month.

"I go into George Boughey's to ride out two or three days a week and he's been very good to me. He's supported me since I was a 5lb and then a 3lb claimer. He's got a yard with some nice horses and hopefully, he'll have a few to ride for me over the next few years.

"There's a lot of people in the weighing room who have helped me along the way, just to help me in anything, really. The key thing when I first started was, I couldn't drive so I relied on a lot of them to give me lifts, but there were different aspects as well, and they've helped me a lot.

"There are too many in there to single one out that has helped me, I feel comfortable talking to any of them and having a chat."

Although Loughnane has every right to dream big following a successful opening season, he was quick to point out how important it was to stay grounded.

Loughnane said: "My dad has made sure that I stay grounded and don't get too big for my boots!"