Four weeks and 50 rides: Adam Kirby enjoys first winner since epic Derby success

Adam Kirby enjoyed his first win since landing the Derby on Adayar exactly a month ago at Nottingham on Monday.

Kirby has endured a frustrating run since his breakthrough Classic success, but made no mistake when guiding the two-year-old newcomer Chimgan to victory in the 5f novice stakes (1.55) at Nottingham for long-term supporter Clive Cox.

The dramatic moment when Adam Kirby and brave Adayar secured Derby glory

Kirby, who was a beaten favourite on his original Derby ride John Leeper in Sandown's Gala Stakes on Friday, won on his 50th ride since his landmark success at Epsom.

Cox was delighted to see the 32-year-old get back on the board, and said: "He's a top rider and sometimes you go through these flat spots unintentionally but that's racing. It's great that things are back on the right leg."

Adam Kirby celebrates his first British Classic on AdayarCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Speaking to Racing TV immediately after the race, there was no hint of frustration at the barren spell, with Kirby preferring instead to focus on the exciting winning debutant.

He said: "He's relaxed nicely and he's shown a bit of a turn of foot. It was a nice performance and hopefully things start to take shape now."

Kirby is refusing to let the past month faze him as he joked when asked about what he had opted to do with his earnings from the Derby win. He said: "Nothing. I haven't got them yet!"

Age no boundary to success

Serena Brotherton has been riding races under rules since 1994, but the 50-year-old amateur showed that age is just a number as she landed a second winner in five days in the opening 1m2f handicap.

Brotherton guided the 9-4 Phil McBride-trained favourite Shining Aitch to a neck success in a contest restricted to female amateur riders.

Laura Pearson was not even born when Brotherton rode her first winner, but the talented young apprentice enhanced her growing reputation with a 30th winner of the year.

The 20-year-old steered the Denis Coakley-trained Givepeaceachance to victory in the 1m6f handicap in a race that was the subject of a major gamble.

The 100-30 favourite Scorched Earth had been as big as 50-1 with some firms overnight, but he flopped on his debut for Tony Coyle, finishing 12th of the 14 runners.

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