Kevin Blake is determined to see Billy Loughnane emerge as the top jockey in the Racing League as they head into Thursday night’s final at Southwell.
Despite a strong performance with a four-timer at Newcastle on the penultimate night, Blake has acknowledged that Ireland’s chances of retaining the team title are slim. Instead, his focus has shifted to supporting ‘Billy the Kid’ in his bid to overtake defending champion Saffie Osborne and claim the top jockey trophy.
Blake stated, “Our chances for the team title are virtually non-existent, and mathematically, it’s out of reach. We’ll still aim for as many winners as possible, but our main focus will be on Billy, who is in contention for the top jockey award. This event is very close, and it’s likely to come down to a three-way fight for both the team title and the top jockey honour. It’s set to be a thrilling night of racing.”
Loughnane is scheduled for a full book of seven rides at Southwell, with many of his mounts coming from his regular ally, trainer George Boughey, who is keeping some strong contenders ready for the final night.
Blake added, “Billy will have seven rides, and we’ll make sure he gets the best opportunities possible to secure the title. I have 60 entries for Ireland, which is fantastic, and I wish we could have that number every week.”
“The line-up will likely include horses from George Boughey, David O’Meara, and Richard Hughes, with some entries from Mark Loughnane, David Loughnane, and Ciaran Murphy.”