MALCOLM Jefferson, whose best prospect Cyrus Darius has been sidelined for the jumps season, can gain minor compensation for that disappointment at Carlisle this afternoon.

The Norton trainer yesterday revealed that Cyrus Darius had incurred a minor problem with a tendon, which he feels is enough of a warning to back off the six-year-old for the time being and give him the rest of this season off.

Last term, Cyrus Darius was unbeaten in three hurdles and hit the heights when winning by ten lengths in Grade 2 company at Aintree's Grand National meeting in April. Last month at Perth, the strapping gelding won on his chasing debut but, unfortunately, he will now be unable to build on that success and it will be this time next year before we see him in action again.

This afternoon at Carlisle, Jefferson has a couple of winning chances. ENCHANTED GARDEN lines-up in the Racing UK Handicap Chase, while CLOUDY DREAM reappears in the Weddings At Carlisle Racecourse National Hunt Flat Race.

A winner at Market Rasen in July, Enchanted Garden looked likely to double-up at Perth last time before coming to grief at the third-last fence when in front.

Enchanted Garden faces two or three talented rivals today, but he's a classy horse when he gets things right and a clean round of jumping should make him hard to beat.

Brian Hughes, rider of Enchanted Garden, will also be aboard nap selection Cloudy Dream, who carries the well-known colours of Trevor Hemmings.

A winner on the second of his two bumper outings last season at Hexham in April, Cloudy Dream could well win another in this sphere before his attentions are turned to hurdling.

TRIPLE EIGHT should go well for North Yorkshire trainer Phil Kirby in the opening AppolloBet In Play Betting Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has been in fine form, winning at Stratford before finishing second at Uttoxeter and Bangor on his most recent starts. He promises to be in the thick of things again under Adam Nicol.

Irish recruit DON'TDROPMEIN (2.40) and the potentially useful GERMANY CALLING (3.15) are two others to note at the Cumbrian course.

Jack Garritty has found winners hard to find since completing a treble at York on Saturday. The Malton rider, two adrift of Tom Marquand in the race for the Stobart Apprentice Championship which climaxes on Saturday, heads to Brighton today.

He rides FULL OF PROMISE, a newcomer from the Richard Fahey stable in the opening British Stallion Studs Maiden Stakes. The daughter of Kyllachy may not need to be anything special to make a winning debut in a weak-looking race.

Garritty has a more obvious chance on stablemate INGLEBY SPRING in the British Lions Charity Firework Display Handicap (division one).

Not beaten far at Ayr last time when ridden by a relatively inexperienced apprentice, Ingleby Spring had previously scored at Thirsk and finished second at Carlisle. A reproduction of that level of form puts her in with a big shout here.

Mick Appleby has done a great job with FRENCH PRESS, who has won his last four starts. A five-timer is attempted in the Caroline Walsh Memorial Handicap.

Although he has gone up another 4lb in the handicap, French Press has been in such unstoppable form and is not easy to dismiss.

Appleby also has good prospects with recent winner Jacob's Pillow in the Blind Veterans UK Handicap, but PERFECT PASTIME, a course and distance winner two outings ago is marginally preferred.

Today's tips, Brighton: 2-00 Full Of Promise, 2-30 Zeb's Lad, 3-05 Duck A L'Orange, 3-40 Roly Tricks, 4-15 Ingleby Spring, 4-50 Byrd In Hand, 5-20 French Press, 5-50 Perfect Pastime.

Carlisle: 2-10 Triple Eight, 2-40 Don'tdropmein, 3-15 Germany Calling, 3-50 Shantou Village, 4-25 Enchanted Garden, 5-00 Cooper's Friend, 5-30 Cloudy Dream (NAP).