BILLY'S LINE IN THE SAND

lan Heitman surveys the All-Weather scene as contenders brace for battle

- lan Heitman

The 12th season of the All-Weather Championships began on October 22 and goes all the way through until Good Friday, April 18, the day after the final day of Newmarket’s Craven meeting. At 179 days long, this season’s All-Weather Championships, tie seasons six and nine as the longest.

The two Trials Days remain in place at Newcastle on January 17th and Lingfield on February 28, with the winners of those races getting bonuses for their connections if they go on to win on Finals Day at Newcastle. The Marathon final has had its field size limit increased to 20 and had an increase in the prize fund.

There are £10,000 prizes for the leading jockey, trainer and owner with £4,000 going to the leading apprentice jockey. Season 11’s leading jockey, Billy Loughnane, was the joint-leader with Luke Morris at the time of writing, but won’t be adding to his total any time soon as he is currently riding in Australia. Eight-time champion all-weather trainer, Mick Appleby, has had a quiet start to season 12 with six, winners at the time of writing, nine behind Roger Varian. Jack Doughty currently leads the way in the leading apprentice race, two clear of 2024 champion apprentice Sean D Bowen. Many of the young apprentice jockeys will look at Billy Loughnane with plenty of admiration and aspire to be as successful as him when and if they ride out their claim. The all-weather campaign provides apprentice jockeys with plenty of opportunities just as it did for Loughnane in the 22/23 season when he rode 41 winners and finished joint sixth in the overall standings. He went four places better last season with only Rossa Ryan riding more winners.