Billy Loughnane vows to be better for ‘learning curve’

PA Sport Reporters
December 13, 2023 2:38 pm

Champion apprentice has been suspended for 17 days under ‘totting-up’ procedure.

Champion apprentice Billy Loughnane has vowed to learn from the lengthy ban he is currently serving.

Loughnane was given 17 days under the ‘totting-up’ procedure for a series of careless riding offences over a six-month period, with four of them deferred.

His ban was reduced by two days due to the number of rides he had taken during the six months – almost 500.

He will miss December 13-16, 18-23 and 26-28 inclusive.

“It’s not ideal, but I’ve got to take it on the chin. It’s a bump in the road, but I’ll have to build on it,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“It’s totally my own fault, it’s totted up across the six-month period but we’ll build on it and move on.

“I’ve had a lot of rides and that helped my in all fairness because it meant I could get a couple of days knocked off, but it’s my own fault for probably trying to win too much.

“It’s a kick in the teeth, but I’ll have a couple of weeks off and come back fitter and stronger.

“In all fairness one of them was a bit more than a little knock, I came across from my draw too quickly, shortened them up on my inside and someone clipped heels.

“It’s a learning curve, I’ve had a lot of rides but it’s small margins where I’ve pushed the margin a little too much and it has cost me.”