Sean Curran, who trains at Hatford, near Stanford in the Vale, celebrated the first double of his career when Captain Smoothy and Classic Dream scored at Exeter on Thursday.

Captain Smoothy, a 16-1 chance, was having his first outing for the trainer in the Happy Christmas Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle, and travelled well for Laura Griffiths to beat Ramvaswani by four lengths.

Curran said: “That was brilliant for the owner and the lads in the yard.

“We're not a gambling stable, but some of them had a bit on.

“There was money around for him, but he drifted like a barge on the course.”

The 152-1 brace was completed when Classic Dream just held the late bid of Arctic Magic in the South-West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle.

The 8-1 shot had gained his first win for Curran in a seller and this represented a rise in grade.

But under Anthony Freeman the gelding gamely held on by a neck.

“That's my first double and I might be late for work in the morning,” Curran continued.

“This fellow came to me in the summer. His legs haven't been great which is why I stuck him in a seller. He didn't attract a bid, thank God.

“Considering his problems, we'll take our time with him and keep him out of sight of the handicapper.”

Meanwhile, Curran confirmed that Iris De Balme is set to make his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 28.

“It's a long time off but, touch-wood, he's showing me all the right signals,” he said.