Kirby and Gormley show good times are ahead with double

Dual-purpose trainer Philip Kirby might be busy preparing a couple of his big National Hunt guns for festive targets but a 11.5-1 double on the Fibresand confirmed that his small team of Flat horses are also in rude health.

Lady Buttons and Top Ville Ben are both set to return to the racecourse before the turn of the year and they will do so with the yard in good form after Mr Carbonator and Good Time Ahead were both steered to victory by apprentice rider Jamie Gormley.

Gormley, who is attached to the stable of Kirby’s good friend Iain Jardine, for whom he has ridden 17 winners this year, left it late on Mr Carbonator who overcame a troubled passage to hit the front in the final strides.