Jockey Robbie Colgan came in for strong praise from winning trainer Sheila Lavery for his prep-work and riding of Laid Back Luke winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase at Fairyhouse today.

Colgan was steering just his third winner of the season and following Laid Back Luke’s hard fought win, a delighted Lavery stated “he is a serious character and I’d love to take all the accolades but Robbie (Colgan) does a load of the work and rides him every day and we discuss the races, where we go, with him.

“He’s a tricky horse, even at home he has to do his own thing and once he is doing that, he is happy.”

She added “he took a blow at Punchestown last time and just needed the run. His options are open from two and a half miles to three miles.

“He’s a horse that has gears and was fourth in a decent maiden at Navan last year. He only does what he has to do, and Robbie said there was loads more left in the tank.”

Lavery trains mostly flat performers and when asked how many she has for the jumps game, added “this is my only one and then Mandamus has run in two hurdles - so I’ve one and a half!”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee