Billy Loughnane has withdrawn his appeal against a lengthy ban after having the sentence cut by the BHA. The top talent who was the winningest jockey in Britain last year with a 21st century record of 223 wins and finished second to Oisin Murphy in the official jockeys championship, was set to miss three weeks of the Flat Turf season after he was suspended for 21 days at Southwell last week.

He was riding Beelzebub for trainer David Loughnane, who is not related to the jockey, in the concluding 6f handicap on the Southwell card, but his mount was withdrawn on the orders of the racecourse vet after the horse was kicked behind the stalls at the start.

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Loughnane subsequently rode the horse back from the start which resulted in him being summoned to a stewards’ inquiry.

He was found guilty of improper riding “in that in riding his mount back, he had acted against the instructions of the Veterinary Surgeon.”

Loughnane announced he would appeal, backed up by David Loughnane who said his horse was “absolutely perfect”

However in an update on Thursday, the BHA said the penalty had been reduced and an appeal hearing would no longer take place.

A statement said: “Having obtained further evidence from parties present at the start of Race 7, the Midnite: Built For 2026 Not 2006 Handicap at Southwell on 26 March 2026, and reviewed this alongside the evidence given to the Stewards on the day, the BHA can confirm that a decision has been taken to reduce the penalty imposed on Billy Loughnane for breaching Rule (J)20 to a suspension of 14 days.

“This has been accepted by Mr Loughnane and as such, an appeal hearing is no longer necessary.

“It has been established that an instruction given by the Veterinary Surgeon at the start was not heard by Mr Loughnane. As such, he was unaware of the instruction given not to ride Beelzebub back and therefore cannot be said to have ignored it.”

The statement went on: “However, while Mr Loughnane was of the belief that he was able to ride the horse back to the unsaddling area, he accepts that the horse was withdrawn as a result of the vet finding that the horse was lame upon being withdrawn on veterinary advice, having been assessed and trotted by the vet after having received a kick. He was therefore correctly found in breach of Rule (J)20 as he should not have ridden the horse back.”