Death of Arkle jockey

LIAM McLoughlin of Ratoath, Co Meath, who has died at the age of 75, had the distinction of riding legendary steeplechaser Arkle to his first victory in Navan in January, 1962.

The future superstar went off an unconsidered 20/1 outsider in the three-mile Bective Novice Hurdle and stormed to a surprise success with the favourite and Tom Dreaper trained stable companion Kerforo well beaten.

Kerforo was partnered that day by Pat Taaffe, who was in the saddle for all of Arkle’s big race triumphs.

McLoughlin enjoyed his biggest success on Kerforo later in 1962 when guiding the mare to an Irish Grand National success.

He also gained a victory at the Cheltenham festival in 1965 with Tom Dreaper’s Arkloin in the Broadway Novices’ Chase – later to become the Sun Alliance Novice Chase.