An inch is as good as a mile for Lady Of Luxury

A nose, a neck and a nose split the first four home in the Craic At The Track This Weekend Handicap at Dundalk with Lady Of Luxury just coming out on top for Eoin Doyle and Wayne Lordan.

The Niarchos family-bred four-year-old shed her maiden tag at the ninth attempt, chasing the leaders, and finding herself in fourth position at the halfway stage.

Closing behind the leaders two furlongs out, Lady Of Luxury was ridden over a furlong out, staying on to challenge inside the final furlong, disputing close home and just prevailing at the line.

“She was tough. I knew I hit the line well but Sharjah was coming back at me. He’s a tough old horse and he tries hard,” said Lordan.

“Eoin said she was in really good form and he didn’t tie me down to instructions. The race worked out well.

“They said when I go for her that she’ll roll to the right so I was hoping to get something on my outside and I was waiting until a gap came. Luckily they told me as I might have switched out and I might not have won.

“Usually when you see Sharjah you think they are going a good gallop but he’d no blinkers tonight and was probably a bit idle in front. We didn’t go that quick but it worked out for me on the day.”

When asked about behind closed doors racing he said: “At least we are racing and people are working and making some money. The show must go on."

(AM & EM)