Laid Back Luke gains fifth career win

The Sheila Lavery trained versatile performer Laid Back Luke gained a fifth career success at Gowran today, landing the Live Music After Racing Handicap Hurdle under jockey Robbie Colgan.

Coming into today's race, the ten year old gelding had already completed the 'full set' of racing wins, with previous successes in a bumper, hurdle, chase and flat race and today battled gamely for a length and three parts win over Call The Taxie

Jockey Colgan is a key member of Lavery's stable as a work-rider and is invariably credited with much of the trainer's successes and today's win was no different.

Lavery stated “I didn’t think he’d like the ground and thought it would be too gluey but Robbie never gave an inch away and was almost brushing the rail on the relatively better ground. I was delighted the way he battled back at the finish.

“We’ll just keep mixing it up with him, he can do anything and I think there is a big Flat handicap in him. What a horse — he’s won a hurdle, chase, bumper and a Flat handicap and he’s just brilliant to have in the yard.

“He’s a bit difficult when you get up on him and is a bit of a character but Robbie knows him so well, and he does all the work. I can’t take any of the kudos!”

Quotes from Alan Magee