Loughnane hoping Bow Echo can realise Guineas dream
He learned to ride at his flat-trainer father Mark Loughnane's yard at Rock, near Kidderminster and won his first race at his 'local' course in Wolverhampton in November 2022. The Champion Apprentice title came the following year, when he became the youngest jockey since Lester Piggott in 1951 to ride in a British classic at the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Last year Loughnane rode 222 winners, breaking Kieren Fallon's record that had stood since 2003, on his way to becoming Annual Flat Champion Jockey.
That title is a separate award to the British Flat Jockeys' Championship, decided by the number of winners between May and October, which was won in 2025 by Oisin Murphy, with Loughnane runner-up. Loughnane said last year would be "hard to beat" but becoming champion jockey on the flat is the ultimate aim. "That's been my dream since I've been able to walk and talk, I've always wanted to be a jockey and being able to do it will be something that will mean a lot," he said.
"It's something I definitely want to achieve, whether it's this year, or years to come, I'll be giving it my best shot. "It's been a whirlwind couple of years. I couldn't have dreamed it going the way it's going but I'm very fortunate to be riding some very nice horses for some very good people.
" One of those people is Boughey, who Loughnane has ridden for pretty much since he started out and who he describes as being like a "father figure" and "older brother" to him, especially now as he has moved to be closer to Boughey's yard in Newmarket. The 34-year-old said he "cherishes" their friendship with the pair regularly texting about Loughnane's progress even they are not racing as a team. "If I don't have a runner I'm watching him ride, it sounds a bit odd, but he's such a big part of the team that I like to watch and see how he's getting on and make sure he's focused and on the ball," Boughey said.
"He's sometimes been at Wolverhampton one evening, he's texting me in between each race and, 'Oh God, I got that wrong' or 'got that right' sort of thing. "It's good fun. I feel very relaxed when he rides for me because I think the relationship we have enables him the freedom to ride as he likes.