Loughran Central to House party
When Roger Loughran won the Grade Two Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Central House nobody could deny him his moment in the spotlight.
It had all been so different only five weeks earlier for the 26-year-old jockey when he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Riding Dessie Hughes’ Queen Mother Champion Chase hopeful in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown, Loughran had the race in the bag when 100 yards before the line he believed he had already won.
He stood up in the saddle to salute the crowd only to look down and see Tony McCoy and Andrew McNamara still riding a finish.
Loughran was inconsolable. He had only turned professional the day before and it was his first ride as a ‘proper’ jockey. After six tough years trying to make a name for himself he could have thrown it all away on his first ride.
As he returned to the winners' enclosure (he still managed to finish third), there were a few disgruntled punters who let Loughran know exactly what they thought of his misdemeanour.
To his credit though, Hughes confirmed to everyone in the immediate aftermath that Loughran would be keeping the ride and he was as good as his word.
“The boss has been brilliant,” says Loughran.
“He didn’t have to stick by me and he could have quite easily found another jockey to ride the horse, but he said straight away that I would keep the ride, which was a huge boost.”
Loughran was handed a 14-day ban for his mistake and was out of action for nearly a month.
They were dark days but the support of John Kenny, Central House’s owner, softened the blow for him.
“The fact that I knew I was going to keep the ride helped me get through the ban. They could have got rid of me there and then but they stuck by me,” said Loughran.
For most jockeys in Ireland racing is in the blood, but Loughran has had quite a different upbringing.
“My family have got no background in racing at all,” he says. “They are farmers. My interest in horses began when my father bought me a pony when I was young and I’ve been hooked on horses ever since then.
“I didn’t do any pony racing like a lot of other Irish jockeys though. I started going hunting and that was when I realised that I loved the thrill of the chase.”
Loughran’s early years were spent with trainers Pat O’Leary and Christy Roche before he settled with Hughes. He did not have his first ride until 2000 and it was later that year when his first winner came at Kilbeggan.
“My first ride as an amateur was in 2000 so I was a late starter really,” says Loughran.
“I broke my leg a couple of times and that’s what held me back in the beginning. Well, that’s what I put it down to anyway!
“I’ve ridden for quite a lot of trainers. I mainly ride for Dessie but I’ve ridden for the likes of Tom Taaffe, Paul Nolan, Michael Hourigan…and Francis Flood has been good to me as well. I just hope they all support me now that I’ve turned pro.”
The decision to turn professional was not taken lightly but Central House’s improved early-season form had a big say in matters. Victories in two Grade Two chases, beating the likes of Moscow Flyer and Rathgar Beau, proved to Loughran that he could mix it at the top level.
“I decided to turn pro after winning two Grade Twos on Central House. That was when I realised I could ride with the pros,” he says.
“It had been in the back of my mind for a while and I was getting more and more rides for the boss.
“I’ve made my name on the back of Central House really and I owe the horse a lot. I’ve got a hell of a lot to thank him for. I also owe the owners and Dessie so much for giving me the chance to prove myself.”
The association has a longer history than some may think as the pair were first united when they finished second in a bumper to none other than stablemate and twice Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace in 2002, and were successful together two runs later.
“I won a bumper on him at Punchestown back in November 2002,” said Loughran. “I’ve been on and off him ever since really. All the big boys have ridden him - Timmy Murphy, Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry and Conor O’Dwyer - but the boss thinks he goes best for me, which is a huge compliment."
Central House has improved out of all recognition this year and, bar one disappointing run, which incidentally came during Loughran’s ban, he has confirmed himself as the form horse among Ireland’s two-mile chasers.
“The horse is back on song now and he goes to Cheltenham with every chance. When he got beat at Fairyhouse Paul (Carberry) said he just felt lifeless after making a mistake at the first but he’s back to his best now.
“He gave me a great feel in the Tied Cottage. He even picked up again after the last and he goes to Cheltenham as the best two-mile chaser in Ireland at the moment. He has the form in the book. He’s beaten them all this year so we are just hoping for the best.
“I can’t wait for Cheltenham. It will be some experience.”
