18-05-2025
Rising star rider Billy looks to shine under blue skies at Redcar Races
TEENAGE rider Billy Loughnane is looking to bounce back from a blow to his chances of a first jockeys' championship when he heads to Redcar on Monday.
The 19-year-old rising star of the weighing room was 'gutted' to be given an 11-day ban for improper riding at Newcastle earlier this month, meaning he will miss both days of the Epsom Derby meeting.
Loughnane, who was crowned champion all-weather jockey in April despite riding much of the winter in Australia, looks to be the man to follow with an attractive book of rides on Redcar's eight-race card.
With plenty of seaside sunshine forecast for Monday, Loughnane has plenty to look forward to, including Mister Blue Sky for Osmotherley trainer Gemma Tutty in the Handicap.
The gelding kept on well to get off the mark over six furlongs at Hamilton on May 4 and will be a popular choice to defy a penalty over an extra furlong.
The danger could be Tim Easterby's Perfidia who was a staying on second to easy winner City of Strangers at Redcar on April 21 and could also be suited by an extra furlong.
Loughnane also looks to have a couple of plum rides for powerful Newmarket trainer George Boughey, with Calafiori and recent Redcar winner Cadarn.
Calafiori lines up for the EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Division 2) having improved markedly from his debut to be second of 13 over the minimum trip at Leicester. He ran on well inside the final furlong that day and now tackles six furlongs.
Cadarn, a cosy winner at Redcar on April 21, lines up in the Marske Fabrication & Engineering Straight Mile Handicap and could be capable of following up despite a 3lbs penalty.
Loughnane will also fancy his chances when he teams up with trainer David Evans on Early Release in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap. The gelding was beaten only a neck at Windsor last time and can make the long trip from Monmouthshire pay off.
Sugar Baby, another recent Redcar winner, is back for more in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap (Division 2), with Peter Niven's gelding looking to defy a 3lbs penalty. In-form Callum Rodriguez is back in the plate.
However, Michael Dods is double-handed in the race with Deputy (Oliver Stammers) and Cuban Storm (Lewis Edmunds) – both previous winners at Redcar. Deputy won at Redcar on his last outing of 2024 and is appearing for the first time this season. Cuban Storm is back to the same mark he had when winning at this meeting last year when ground conditions were similar.
Dods has another course and distance winner in the form of Taygar in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap (Division 1). The Churchill filly won over six furlongs in the mud under an inspired Lewis Edmunds ride at Redcar in November and had a pipe-opener over a furlong less at Doncaster on her first run of 2025.
She's back to six furlongs with Edmunds again in the saddle and, although ground conditions will be very different this time, she has some decent form on faster going.
The much-travelled Luke Morris makes the trip to Redcar for two rides – Analogical and debutante Project Incheon.
Analogical, trained at Newmarket by veteran trainer Sir Mark Prescott, stayed on well to break his duck at Beverley last time, and can follow up under a six-pound penalty in the Celebrate The Life of Joe Newton Handicap.
Project Incheon, a son of Zoustar, goes to post for the first time in the opening EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Division 1) but the market will be the best guide to a race largely made up of first-timers.
