Billy Loughnane is in the form of his life, and the finishing line of the jockeys’ championship is in sight. The 20-year-old rode a treble at Wolverhampton on Monday evening, adding to his three winners at Ascot on Saturday, and he now holds a commanding lead in the race to be crowned champion for the first time.
Monday’s hat-trick came courtesy of Solar Swing for George Boughey, Dreams Galore for Ollie Sangster and Fille Etoile for Archie Watson. The latter was a 17/2 shot who got up by a nose in a juvenile maiden. That followed a Saturday at Ascot when he landed the Group 3 Bengough Stakes on Hidden Force for Charlie Appleby, as well as winning on So Regal and Gold Star Hero.
There is no let-up either. Loughnane heads to Leicester on Tuesday afternoon with six rides, starting in the second race at 2.06pm and ending in the finale at 5.01pm. Here is a look at each of his mounts.
2.06 Leicester – Havana Flash
Frustrating to follow thus far, Havana Flash is winless in four starts for Boughey. Loughnane has actually partnered her to her two weakest finishes, although they came in strong races: she was eighth on debut in Epsom’s Woodcote Stakes when pitched in at the deep-end, then, after a close-call second at Lingfield, she was seventh of eight in Listed company at Sandown. Her third at Chester last month came under Pat Cosgrave, but with Loughnane back aboard, and in just a five-runner field, Havana Flash is the second favourite behind odds-on shot Woodvale, who aims to remain unbeaten for James Tate.
2.41 Leicester – Dream On Kent
One of Loughnane’s Wolves winners came in at 17/2, the general market price of Dream On Kent in Leicester’s third Tuesday race. This will be his first ride aboard David Evans’ charge, who is 0-7 in his career, but contests this low grade nursery off a declining mark. After two close calls in June when second at both Chester and Chepstow, he has found things tougher since, but could be more competitive against this level of opposition.
3.16 Leicester – Sayidah Iffraaj
The longest-priced of Loughnane’s Tuesday rides is Sayidah Iffraaj, another for his chief officer Boughey. This open looking maiden boasts some promising types in its line-up, of which owner Jaber Abduallah’s filly is one. She was fifth of nine at Southwell on debut under Jack Callan when unable to get involved over 7f. Despite possessing more of a sprinter’s pedigree, Boughey has moved her up in trip to 1m here. As with any horse on their second start, there is always the prospect of significant improvement for the experience.
3.51 Leicester – Seven Questions
Loughnane actually partnered former Group 3 winner Seven Questions on his debut back in 2023. The jockey was still an apprentice then, with the son of Kodiac finishing fourth that day. His Group race win came when trained by George Scott in May 2024, but despite a win at Goodwood off a mark of 87 earlier this term, he has found it difficult since switching yards. Now down to a rating of just 82, having been rated 107 at his best, Loughnane will be required to reignite the spark of this sprinter’s best career efforts.
4.26 Leicester – Parlando
One ride who could challenge for favouritism later on the card is Parlando for Ian Williams. The consistent seven-year-old has six career successes among his 37 starts, the most recent of which arrived at Chester in the summer. He is 3lb above that mark today, but ran well at Newbury last time over 1m2f when third from an inopportune position. He steps back up to 1m4f, over which he has raced on three occasions. Loughnane’s only two rides aboard Parlando so far have come over the distance, including a third-placed effort at Kempton earlier this year.
5.01 Leicester – Mr Cool
Having netted just twice in his first 30 races, Mr Cool has won on two of his last four turf starts for Charlie Johnston. A lesser effort most recently came on the all-weather, but he returns to grass with the handicapper having eased him 1lb. Loughnane partnered him to victory at Nottingham back in April 2025 and will be confident that his consistent thread can be resumed; before his Southwell blip, his form figures of 231313 boded well for further improvement.
Jockeys’ title race: Loughnane closing in
Saturday’s Ascot treble moved Loughnane 26 clear of his nearest pursuer, Oisin Murphy, in the jockeys’ championship, and Monday’s three winners at Dunstall Park have only strengthened his position, with 29 winners in hand. With the title decided on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 17 October, time has effectively run out for Oisin Murphy to reel him in.
It has been a fascinating duel. At the start of August, Loughnane held a lead of just seven over Murphy, 84 winners to 77, but a career-best haul of 35 winners in July had already given him momentum and he has not looked back. The relentless pace has continued through the autumn, with 16 winners from 78 rides in the last fortnight alone.
He also sits on 216 British winners for the calendar year, a remarkable tally for a rider who was only champion apprentice in 2023 and landed his first Group 1 just last season. Murphy is a multiple champion who knows what it takes to win a title race, so Loughnane will not be counting his chickens just yet. Barring a dramatic turnaround, though, racing is about to crown a new champion, and one who looks set to dominate for years to come.
With Champions Day also likely to have a huge bearing on a gripping trainers’ championship, Ascot promises to be quite the coronation.