I'm absolutely gutted to be banned for the Derby meeting at Epsom – but I have only myself to blame

The Irish Sun

16-05-2025

MY week didn't get off to an ideal start after I picked up an 11-day ban at Newcastle on Sunday.
There is nothing more frustrating than sitting out when you're suspended and watching horses you would have ridden go on and win.
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Billy Loughnane is banned for the Derby festival at Epsom
Credit: Getty
I will miss the Derby meeting and I'm gutted about that.
But I've no-one else to blame but myself. It was careless and the stewards were right.
I made a mistake and I'll learn from it.
The jockey's championship is at the back of my mind and missing any action is a blow, but there is plenty of time to make up any lost ground.
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I felt sorry for Kieran Shoemark on Sunday, too, when he had the French 1,000 Guineas on Shes Perfect taken away by the stewards.
It's been a tough couple of weeks for Kieran but he is a very good jockey and I've no doubt he will have a big season.
They're appealing the result so we'll see how it plays out.
It would be incredible for Kieran and Charlie Fellowes if they got the race back, they both deserve it.
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I'm going to have a very busy day at Newmarket and it will be built around CLASSIC ENCOUNTER (2.15) for George Boughey.
He won nicely first time up at Redcar and then ran really well when he was second in a competitive handicap at the Guineas meeting.
We split into two groups that day and he ran a very good race in the circumstances.
He's a likeable horse and he seems in great form at the moment. He'll run well.
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It'll be exciting to ride Charlie Appleby's DANCE TO THE MUSIC (2.50) on her debut.
As you'd expect she is beautifully-bred, being a sister to Charlie's Group 1 star Space Blues and the yard have an amazing record with debutants at Newmarket.
I've not sat on her but I'm looking forward to it.
I'm very proud and grateful to pick up rides in the blue silks of Godolphin when William Buick is riding elsewhere.
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He's at Newbury to ride Notable Speech, among others, in the Lockinge.
It's a brilliant race and an incredibly tough one to call, but I'll be keeping an eye on it from the Newmarket weighing room.
My day kicks off on STERLING KNIGHT (1.05) and he has a good each-way shout.
He is a rock-solid horse and has been running well all year.
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He was a couple of places behind Classic Encounter last time, so if he runs well it will be a nice form boost for me ahead of that ride.
I rode SAXONIA (1.40) at Kempton last time and get the leg up again.
He was fourth over a mile and I think the drop back to seven furlongs is going to suit him.
POLE STAR (3.25) looks to have an excellent chance having run such a promising race on his debut at Chester last week.
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He saw his race out strongly and will no doubt have learned plenty on his debut. It's a pretty hot race today but he is open to loads of improvement.
WHITE CHAPEL ROAD (4.00) has some solid handicap form to his name and he will have come on for his comeback run.
Paul and Ollie Cole are in great form, I rode a winner for them at Salisbury on Thursday, and he should be bang there.
Last but not least I ride EMINENCY (4.35) for Stuart Williams. He takes a drop in class today and has slipped to a nice mark.
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