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Robbie Colgan - Always Quiet but Always Gifted
It has been some career for Colgan, who is still going strong at the age of 44.
Friday, 08 May 2026
Robbie Colgan in the winner's circle at Fairyhouse Racecourse
It is now 24 years since Robbie Colgan burst onto the scene as a teenager when steering the Oliver Brady-trained Flint Knapper to victory in a maiden hurdle at 25-1. It was the famous Easter festival at Fairyhouse and Colgan did an uncanny impression of Paul Carberry. He has an old head on those young shoulders.
It is no surprise to hear Carberry was his idol growing up as you could always tell Colgan modelled himself on the former champion jockey. Always quiet, creeping away. Gifted.
It has been some career for Colgan, who is still going strong at the age of 44. He is one of the very few who has made a seamless transition from jumps to the Flat and has ridden big winners under both codes.
Colgan celebrated a huge success at Navan back in 2007 when teaming up with Tony Martin to land the prestigious Troytown Chase on Royal County Star, while the year before that he won the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse on the stamina-laden Newbay Prop.
More recently, Colgan has enjoyed a terrific association with Summerhill trainer Sheila Lavery and the pair went so close to landing a Classic at Newmarket in 2019 when Lady Kaya was second to Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas. She won a Group 3 at Leopardstown prior to that and appeared to have the world at her feet when she cruelly lost her life as a three-year-old. It was heartbreaking for Colgan and Lavery.
“She was some filly,” Colgan said of Lady Kaya. “I’d say the day she won at Leopardstown was probably the highlight of my career. She gave me some feel. She had so much class and speed.”
A native of just outside Summerhill, Colgan played underage soccer with Agher before racing took over his life.
“I always loved watching Paul Carberry growing up, he was my idol,” he said. “I enjoyed the jumps but when I look at the lads now, I always say it was madness that I did it for so long!
“I’m based with Sheila, Tony Martin and Ger Lyons now and ride out for a few lads on the Curragh as well so I keep myself busy.”
Colgan may be one of the elder statesmen in the weighing room now but the quietly-spoken Meath man is still as hungry as ever for winners.
Racing idol: Paul Carberry
First winner: Flint Knapper at Fairyhouse in 2002
Career highlight: Lady Kaya winning at Leopardstown in 2019
It is no surprise to hear Carberry was his idol growing up as you could always tell Colgan modelled himself on the former champion jockey. Always quiet, creeping away. Gifted.
It has been some career for Colgan, who is still going strong at the age of 44. He is one of the very few who has made a seamless transition from jumps to the Flat and has ridden big winners under both codes.
Colgan celebrated a huge success at Navan back in 2007 when teaming up with Tony Martin to land the prestigious Troytown Chase on Royal County Star, while the year before that he won the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse on the stamina-laden Newbay Prop.
More recently, Colgan has enjoyed a terrific association with Summerhill trainer Sheila Lavery and the pair went so close to landing a Classic at Newmarket in 2019 when Lady Kaya was second to Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas. She won a Group 3 at Leopardstown prior to that and appeared to have the world at her feet when she cruelly lost her life as a three-year-old. It was heartbreaking for Colgan and Lavery.
“She was some filly,” Colgan said of Lady Kaya. “I’d say the day she won at Leopardstown was probably the highlight of my career. She gave me some feel. She had so much class and speed.”
A native of just outside Summerhill, Colgan played underage soccer with Agher before racing took over his life.
“I always loved watching Paul Carberry growing up, he was my idol,” he said. “I enjoyed the jumps but when I look at the lads now, I always say it was madness that I did it for so long!
“I’m based with Sheila, Tony Martin and Ger Lyons now and ride out for a few lads on the Curragh as well so I keep myself busy.”
Colgan may be one of the elder statesmen in the weighing room now but the quietly-spoken Meath man is still as hungry as ever for winners.
Racing idol: Paul Carberry
First winner: Flint Knapper at Fairyhouse in 2002
Career highlight: Lady Kaya winning at Leopardstown in 2019