The hottest apprentice in Britain could be a huge wildcard when the turf returns

There is something special happening on the all-weather.

No, not just the fact it is (mostly) going ahead while the jumps is once again forced to the sidelines by freezing temperatures, but rather the emergence of Billy Loughnane, the most in-form and in-demand apprentice rider in Britain.

The 16-year-old jockey has taken 2023 by storm and a treble at Wolverhampton on Monday evening – his second at that track in a week – took him to 18 winners this month.