RYEDALE jockey Robert Winston, who is enjoying a fine season, can play a starring role at Ayr tomorrow.

He teams-up with Collier Hill in the Dawn Group Showcase Handicap and can steer the top-weight to victory for North Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank.

A previous winner over this course and distance, Collier Hill gave notice that his return to winning form was imminent on his latest outing at Hamilton when he finished third to the progressive Hasanpour.

That was the gelding's first outing after a summer break and he should have benefitted greatly from the race.

Some ease in the ground is vital to Collier Hill, who I expect to be well suited by the going at Ayr, which is good, and good-to-soft in places.

Winston has been booked by Sir Michael Stoute to ride Essex in the Cody Maiden Stakes and this lightly-raced colt looks to have excellent prospects.

Not seen out last season as a juvenile, Essex has shown definite signs of ability in two of his three outings this term, the exception being his last start at Newmarket in July when he finished sixth of the seven runners.

The fact that Sir Michael is prepared to send him all the way to Scotland from Newmarket suggests that whatever was ailing him last time out is not expected to bother him tomorrow.

Sir Mark Prescott and George Duffield will be represented in the Bramble Nursery by Red Damson, runner-up on his last two outings and a beaten favourite at Ripon by Breathing Sun, who franked the form subsequently at Doncaster.

Red Damson remains a horse to keep on the right side, and is napped to have the call tomorrow.

Over the sticks at Sedgefield, Zibeline takes his next step up the jumping ladder in the Cantor Mobile Novices' Hurdle.

A former useful handicapper on the Flat, the six-year-old was moved to Brian Ellison to pursue a hurdling campaign and broke his duck at the first time of asking on this course a fortnight ago.

Tony McCoy takes the mount tomorrow and a double looks on the cards for the Norton gelding.

Tomorrow's tips

Ayr

2.20 Clog Dancer, 2.50 Red Damson (Nap), 3.20 Collier Hill, 3.50 Unshaken, 4.20 Essex, 4.50 Karminskey Park.

Sedgefield

2.10 Zibeline, 2.40 Primitive Way, 3.10 Western Bluebird, 3.40 Music To My Ears, 4.10 Montessori Mio, 4.40 Newsplayer, 5.10 Spring Gamble.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Leicester.

Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was Kings College Boy (4.50 at Ayr).

Updated: 12:06 Monday, October 13, 2003