BILLY Loughnane has spoken of his pride after it was announced he will join Godolphin as one of their retained riders. The new British champion jockey will commence official duties on December 1st and the news comes on the back of a stunning season at the top level for the 20-year-old, highlighted by big victories on the likes of Bow Echo and Libertango.

Loughnane told Racing TV: “My answer was instant - they are a team you want to be a part of. I grew up watching Godolphin win everything and to be able to put the colours on now and compete for them has been amazing. To now be part of the team is what you want and it’s a very proud day.”

Loughnane also hopes his new position will allow him to continue riding plenty for George Boughey, the man who has helped propel the young pilot into the spotlight with his expert preparation of the likes of Bow Echo and Libertango.

He added: “I’m still available and will be riding for George on the mornings and afternoons. It might change a little bit at weekends but day to day I want to be going racing and I love working for George, he’s an amazing man who has been very good to me.”

When announcing the appointment on the Godolphin website, chief operating officer Hugh Anderson, said: “William Buick has ridden for us with distinction for over 10 years and we are very happy that he will continue as one of our two retained jockeys.

NAAS Racecourse, Horse Racing Ireland and the New York Racing Association have sealed a reciprocal race sponsorship deal.

The partnership commences with the Grade 2, $500,000 Man o’ War presented by Horse Racing Ireland on Saturday, November 28th, at Belmont Park, which re-opened in September following a $555 million redevelopment. Next June, Naas will host the Belmont Park Irish EBF Fillies Maiden on Wednesday, June 23rd.

BREEDERS’ Cup Turf hero Benvenuto Cellini could be part of Aidan O’Brien’s challenge at the Hong Kong International Races in Sha Tin next month, as the Ballydoyle handler bids to break his own record for Group 1 winners in a season.

O’Brien has already trained 28 Group 1/Grade 1 winners so far this year, equalling his previous best tally in 2017. Benvenuto Cellini and stable companions Diamond Necklace, Minnie Hauk and Lambourn have all been entered for the 10-furlong Cup and the 12-furlong Vase. Queenstown is also in the Vase.

Joseph O’Brien could return to Sha Tin with Galen, fourth in the 2025 Hong Kong Cup, and he has also entered Goodie Two Shoes, James J Braddock, Omni Man, Sons And Lovers, Trustyourinstinct and new €1.9 million recruit Bright Light.

GAVIN Cromwell has confirmed his 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

The J.P. McManus-owned eight-year-old has largely struggled since his Cheltenham success but a third-placed finish behind Gaelic Warrior when defending his Gold Cup crown in March offered hope for the future.

Inothewayurthinkin features among 19 initial entries for the Betfair Chase on November 21st, with the sponsors making last year’s winner Grey Dawning their 11/10 favourite. Henry de Bromhead’s Heart Wood is next in the betting at 5/1 ahead of Salver (Jamie and Josh Moore), Iroko (Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero) and Affordale Fury (Noel Meade), who are all priced up at 7/1.

BETFRED says it had “no choice” but to end its sponsorship of all five British classics following the latest tax increase announced in the British Budget.

Chairman and co-founder Fred Done had intimated prior to the announcement that they would end their deal to back both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Derby and Oaks at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster if chancellor John Healey raised machine games duty (MGD). While Healey did not raise MGD to the 40% some had feared, he did put it up to 25% from 20%, leading Betfred to claim over 1,000 jobs were at risk in their shops alone.

Betfred took over sponsorship of the Derby, Oaks and St Leger in 2023 and picked up the Newmarket Classics the following year in a deal from 2025 onwards.

TRIPLE Group 1 winner and Group 1 sire Noble Mission, an own-brother to the legendary Frankel, is joining Sea The Moon and Study Of Man at Lanwades Stud for 2027.

Noble Mission retired to stud at Lanes’ End in Kentucky in 2015 and has been standing at the JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2021. His progeny have to date won over 810 races and more than $36 million.

His 2027 fee has been set at £9,000.

TEAHUPOO’S bid to win the Bar 1 Betting Hatton’s Grace Hurdle for a fourth time is sure to be one of the main draws at Fairyhouse’s Winter Festival during the last weekend of November.

The Grade 1 hurdle over two and a half miles to take place on Sunday, November 29th will share top-billing with the Grade 1 Bar 1 Betting Drinmore Novice Chase.

Should Teahupoo prevail once again, he would join a very select group of horses to have won a Grade 1 contest four times, alongside celebrated names such as Hurricane Fly and Istabraq (Leopardstown Irish Champion Hurdle) and Florida Pearl (Leopardstown Irish Gold Cup).