The Good Friday Billy Loughnane rides sees the All-Weather Champion Jockey partner Willie Mullins’ Gaucher in the Easter Classic.
Billy Loughnane Rides Willie Mullins Star In Easter Classic
Willie Mullins has turned to soon-to-be-crowned All-Weather Champion Jockey Billy Loughnane on Good Friday as Gaucher heads to the Easter Classic.
Mullins has enjoyed plenty of success when coming over to Britain including at the Cheltenham Festival. Isn’t the Irish Grand National prize money enough?
However, Mullins will be searching for his FIRST EVER win on the British all-weather on Good Friday.
And Gaucher could just provide him that maiden success. The seven-year-old was a Grade 3 winner over Hurdles back in October but has since reverted his class back to the flat. It is worth noting that that Graded win at Tipperary was very lucky as Glen Kiln unseated Brian Hayes.
WATCH: Gaucher Wins Grade 3 At Tipperary
WOW! High drama in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle (Grade 3) at Tipperary as Glen Kiln unseats Brian Hayes at the last and hands the advantage to Gaucher!
Both horse and rider were OK after the mishap. pic.twitter.com/h1xABbbZ7M
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) October 5, 2025
Gaucher was a two-time winner on the flat in France back in 2022, but now bids for a third win in a row on the level for Mullins.
He was an easy winner of two races at Dundalk in December and February and now steps up in class. And there would probably be no better pilot than Loughnane, who is set to be crowned Champion Jockey on the all-weather with 50+ wins looking likely.
At the time of writing, the youngster has 48 winners for the season.
Good Friday Billy Loughnane Rides
As he regularly does, Loughnane has plenty of rides for the All-Weather Finals at Newcastle on Good Friday.
- 1:15pm – Andab (Joseph O’Brien)
- 1:50pm – Al Najashi (Ollie Sangster)
- 2:25pm – Callianassa (Brian Ellison)
- 3:00pm – NO RIDE
- 3:35pm – NO RIDE
- 4:10pm – GAUCHER (Willie Mullins)
- 4:42pm – Beylerbeyi (Ian Williams)
Billy Loughnane Was Recently Handed Three Week Ban
Recently, Loughane was hit with a 21-day ban for ‘improper riding’. The stewards ruled that he acted against the instructions of the vet at Southwell last week.
Before the final race on the card, the 20-year-old was aboard David Loughnane’s (no relation) Beelzebub and his mount received a kick and was withdrawn after being found to be lame.
Loughnane would ride the horse back to the stables instead of dismounting. This went against the instructions of the on-course vet. It’s believed that Loughnane has since appealed the suspension.
