Winning end to eventful week for Billy Loughnane with Doncaster double

Fine Interview again demonstrated his love for Doncaster as Billy Loughnane ended an up-and-down week on a high with a double on Town Moor.

The Wathnan Racing-owned five-year-old was winning at the South Yorkshire track for the third time, with Loughnane sending the 15-8 favourite to the front a furlong from home, from where he stayed on nicely to score by a length from Arkadian Thunder.

It was a fourth win in five rides for Loughnane, who earlier this week was handed a 21-day suspension for improper riding after the stewards ruled he acted against the instructions of the vet after one of his mounts was withdrawn at the start at Southwell.

Loughnane confirmed he had appealed the suspension: “I’ve lodged an appeal, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens from there on.”

Loughnane – who has designs on being champion jockey for the first time this season – added of the Hamad Al Jehani-trained Fine Interview: “He’s a dream to ride, he’s very relaxed for a sprinter. There’s a strong headwind today that’s suiting horses ridden quietly.

“Wathnan are big guns now and I’m delighted to fill in when James (Doyle, retained rider) is elsewhere.

“Things are going great. I’m lucky to get so much support off good trainers and my agent who does a great job.”

Earlier, Harvey won for the first time in the care of Ian Williams as he held on to take the William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Handicap by a short head.

The four-year-old raced at the back of the field, before Loughnane shook him up to lead heading into the final furlong and the 5-1 shot held off the challenge of Atherstone Warrior by a short head.

Loughnane said: “Ian’s a very good trainer and he’s getting attention for what’s he’s doing across the board – sprinters all the way up to staying horses.

“Another display of what his team can do here. He’s a very keen horse and he’s done a great job settling him and that makes life easier at the races. He’s got a really good team of Flat horses to go to war with for the summer and he’s had a good winter campaign, too.”

Langstone (10-1) took a step forward from his debut at Leicester to win the Stonehouse Travel Agents Barnsley Novice Stakes.

The Clive Cox-trained three-year-old got up to account for favourite King Of Earth by a neck in the hands of Rob Hornby.

Hornby said: “He’s a lovely horse with plenty of size and scope. I rode him first time out and he was raw, he needed that experience and he wasn’t ever going to be rushed.

“I’m looking forward to this year with him and today was just a see where you’re at. A performance like that is obviously very exciting and shows there’s a decent level of ability.

“He’s quite big and still obviously very raw when he hit the front and the way he hit the line, he’ll get further.”

Chris Dwyer’s Jimmy Speaking (100-30 favourite) returned to winning ways in the first division of the William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap, with Melvin Udall (8-1) making a perfect start for Grace Harris in the second division. The latter was purchased for Harris by Freddy Tylicki, who was a delighted onlooker.

Arc Ole Ole justified 6-4 favouritism in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap, with Rising Force (11-2) getting up to land the opening Download The RacedayReady App Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap.

And in the concluding William Hill Price Boosts Every Day Handicap, Spoof was a 40-1 winner for Jack Mitchell and trainer Kevin Frost.