Billy Loughnane

Two-race maiden King Of Cloughan (St Mark's Basilica) was, at odds of 33-1, the outsider of Joseph O'Brien's three runners and he paid a handsome compliment to his Leopardstown conqueror and TDN Rising Star Nola Soul (Justify), a Listed Chesham Stakes contender, with a taking performance in Wednesday's new-look Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. "We thought bringing King Of Cloughan back in trip was the right move, but it was hard to fancy him because he'd been beaten in two maidens," the winning trainer said. "We liked the...

It may have been super-smooth at Newmarket, but Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace Stakes offered a different test to Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) which he was able to pass and at the same time show his other side. Whereas Billy Loughnane had enjoyed a trouble-free run through the 2,000 Guineas, this was a messy affair with some scrimmaging but the imperturbable rhythm of George Boughey's luminary saw him once again get there in front of Gstaad (Starspangledbanner). At the line, it was a short head this time but that...

Whatever the week ahead at Royal Ascot brings, there is one certainty and that is Aidan O'Brien stretching what's possible even further from the centre. Let's get this out of the way first; the current master of Ballydoyle will undeniably form his own one-man club at some point over the next five days with his 100th Royal winner. It is a club so exclusive that it will likely see no other member for decades, with the County Wexford-born nonpareil still a relative youth in the training ranks. Ironically, his shortest-priced...

Ballydoyle's crack three-year-old Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) will face nine rivals in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh. Following the expected withdrawals of the stable's Group 1 winners Puerto Rico and Hawk Mountain, the 2,000 Guineas runner-up will have only Neolithic (Sioux Nation) for company with the Rosegreen duo drawn in eight and 10 respectively. Godolphin's Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder), who was third at Newmarket, will be partnered by that Classic's winning rider Billy Loughnane in the absence of the suspended William Buick and departs from stall six, while...

Where to begin? Perhaps to say that, though this sport faces myriad challenges, the mere thrill of actually going racing is the perfect antidote to such pernicious worries.  And it wasn't just the blazing sunshine and searing performance of Bow Echo on the Rowley Mile that has renewed the faith. A week earlier a trip to Ripon - justifiably dubbed 'The Garden Racecourse' - on a similarly sunny Saturday bit for a more ordinary race day provided no less enjoyable an experience.  It is easy to become despondent with what...

Those who say Flat racing lacks atmosphere need to wake up and get to Newmarket. No winner at the Cheltenham Festival has been cheered in to the enclosure more vociferously by a sell-out crowd than the 2,000 Guineas hero Bow Echo and his fellow young bucks George Boughey and Billy Loughnane.  At the age of 20, Loughnane is perhaps not quite still Billy the Kid but he is now Billy the Classic winner. Boughey beat him to it, four years ago, and a similarly rousing reception was given to his...

A wide-open G1 Betfred 2,000 Guineas on paper turned into a two-horse race approaching the final furlong and then a singular domination from Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) as George Boughey's TDN Rising Star dismissed his only threat Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) with a mighty display on Newmarket's Rowley Mile. Delivering poignancy as well as class carrying the colours of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, the 9-2 shot brushed aside the 3-1 joint-favourite Gstaad heading to the closing stages and powered to an emphatic 2 3/4-length victory in a fast 1:35.59. There...

Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) will face 14 rivals as he carries the silks of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid in Saturday's G1 Betfred 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Unbeaten at two, the George Boughey-trained G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner is the current favourite under Billy Loughnane who is looking for a first Classic victory, with that position at the head of the market not guaranteed now that Ballydoyle and Godolphin's plans are confirmed. Bow Echo was drawn on the wing in 15 nearest the stand's rail, the position of last...

Trainer Tony Carroll, jockey Billy Loughnane, apprentice Ryan Kavanagh and owner Godolphin each won championships in their respective categories on the all-weather. Carroll's 2025 season was a landmark with over £1 million in prize-money for the first time and he sent out 128 winners. His momentum continued into the all-weather season, with 68 wins total. Carroll said, "I have really enjoyed the season. Winning is what it is all about and it has been lovely for us. The team has been fantastic. There has been a great buzz behind the...

Jockey Billy Loughnane has had his 21-day ban reduced to 14 days after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) "obtained further evidence from parties present at the start" following the Southwell race in question. Loughnane had ridden Beelzebub (Dark Angel) in the day's final race on March 26, with the horse receiving a kick and deemed lame prior to the start. The jockey then rode Beelzebub back from the start, against the instructions of the Southwell vet. His ban was set to last from April 9-April 30. The statement read, "Having...

Jockey Billy Loughnane has been banned for 21 days for improper riding. The stewards ruled he acted against the instructions of a vet at Southwell on Thursday evening. There was an incident at the start of the day's final race, with trainer David Loughnane's Beelzebub (Dark Angel) receiving a kick and he was deemed lame by the veterinarian. Billy Loughnane's mount was withdrawn on veterinary advice. Loughnane then rode Beelzebub back from the start, which resulted in an inquiry by the stewards. His 21-day ban will run from April 9-April...

The 14 participants for the 2026 International Jockeys' Challenge in Riyadh during the Saudi Cup meeting, were revealed on Wednesday. Featuring 14 jockeys, seven men and seven women, the four-race contest sees the return of last year's champion, local rider Mohammed Aldaham. Mickael Barzalona, the regular rider of the Longines World's Highest Rated Racehorse Calandagan (Gleneagles) is signed on, as is 2025 Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. Panama's Luis Morales is based in Saudi Arabia alongside Aldaham. Other male jockeys set to mark their mark on the contest include:...