FORMER top-notch jockey Walter Swinburn has made a satisfactory start to his training career with the likes of York-bound Clipperdown (2.20) keeping him in the news.

Universally known as "the choirboy" during his riding days, Walter's angelic looks are more of a mask. His determination to succeed in a notoriously cut-throat profession is there for all to see.

Clipperdown has made steady progress throughout the year, cumulating in a hard-fought victory at Lingfield in September. The form of that contest subsequently received a major boost when the third-placed horse, Kerashan, picked up a decent Leicester event on Tuesday.

The selection will have to improve again if he's going to supplement the success in the opening Garbutt & Elliot Handicap.

But he's quite a striking individual with a good attitude and scope to keep one step ahead of the handicapper.

Anyone lucky enough to see Cinematic's Ayr win couldn't have failed to come away with positive vibes about the colt

To coin a phrase it was like a knife cutting through butter as the Mark Tompkins-trained two-year-old breezed past his opponents as is they were standing stock still.

The excellent time of the race backs up the assertion that Cinematic (2.50) could be something special.

So if the market speaks in his favour for the Acorn Web Nursery Handicap, the bookies had better have a full hod of cash in preparation for the inevitable pay-out.

Another potential boot-filling opportunity arises via Benedict (3.25) in the TSG Handicap.

Scholarly Newmarket handler John Berry doesn't get his mittens on much decent tackle, but he clearly knows what to do when the occasion arises, having cleverly placed Benedict to win his last couple of starts in workmanlike fashion.

In view of the fact that Benedict only prevailed by a cat's whisker on his latest outing, he's been let off with just a 3lb hike in the ratings, a possible miscalculation which officials may come to regret following the climax of the one-mile contest.

Carlisle's jumps card kicks off with a Novices Hurdle featuring none other than Darasim, best known round these parts as a classy stayer when in the care of Mark Johnston at Middleham.

Darasim (2.10) went off the boil over the summer months and has moved down south to Jonjo O'Neill's yard to see if the change of scenery at Jackdaws Castle will buck up his ideas.

Darasim is an athletic type and if he can reproduce anything like the level of ability he demonstrated in his 2004 Group 2 Goodwood Cup triumph, he should technically be different gear to the opposition.

There's no crabbing Micky Hammond's horses at present, all of whom are running well.

Hammond sends out Heidi 111 (3.45) for the £8,000 Environment4Business Handicap Chase, a three-miler guaranteed to get die-hard National Hunt fans in the mood for a winter of action.

Heidi 111, a previous course and distance winner, prevailed after a long absence when successful at Wetherby last term, therefore an absence from the track of 163 days need not be a worry for his supporters.

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