FORMER French Derby winner Celtic Swing has made an excellent start to his stud career siring a number of winning juveniles and there could be another in the pipeline at Newcastle today via Tomasino (2.05).

Celtic Swing's owner Peter Savill has retained an interest in many of his French-based stallion's offspring, including Tomasino, a strapping colt trained by Mark Johnston at Middleham.

It could be argued that the selection's overall level of form is not quite as good as a couple of his rivals in the Betsmart Maiden Stakes. But with only four runners going to post I fancy Kevin Darley to outwit the opposition in what may turn out to be a slowly-run tactical affair.

Pat The Builder (2.35), successful when carrying the nap vote for us on the all-weather at Lingfield last week, turns out again in the Northern Spirit Nursery.

Although conditions could hardly be more different at the Tyneside venue, Pat The Builder's pedigree suggests soft ground should not be a problem for Karl Burke's Newmarket raider.

If you're after a real long shot then try an each-way punt on By The Glass (4.05).

Don Enrico Encisa's runner has crashed so far down the weights he's no forlorn hope in a typical run-of-the-mill end-of-term event.

Have horse can travel must be the motto of the South Wales-based trainer David Evans, who took Red Caf (4.20) all the way up to Ayr to score nine days ago.

This afternoon he points his horse box in a totally different direction and heads for Brighton in search of a double. Red Caf's fortunes improved considerably for a step up to nine furlongs last time, and by my reckoning he is capable of doing even better now that he is tried over a mile-and-a-quarter.

In the Last Chance Selling Stakes at Bath, Bali Royal (3.00) has plenty going for her.

She was an unlucky loser at Brighton recently, where the daughter of Kings Signet received a hefty mid-race bump from the eventual winner Easter Island.

At least the contest proved Bali Royal's ability to handle both an easy surface and a predominantly downhill course.

Finally to Ludlow, where the clear pick for my money is Prince de Galles (5.10) in the closing three-mile Handicap Hurdle.

Peter Bowen's seven-year-old has come to National Hunt racing rather late in life, however there's no ignoring his second to Big Max at Market Rasen.

l Andy Turnell was at least one trainer smiling before the rain stopped as he completed a quick juvenile double at odds of 44-1 with Arjay and Shaanara, both owned by his landlord Dr John Hollowood, at Newcastle yesterday.

Turnell moves from his Thirsk base to Highfield Stables in Malton at the beginning of December, and having taken his score for the season to seven he explained: ''I think it will be better suited to the training of the horses I have got and we will be taking 38 with us, split half and half between jumpers and Flat horses.''

''We have had six two-year-olds this season and now three of them have won.''

Apprentice Richard Thomas's dedication to duty paid off when Arjay stuck to his task in fine style to take the EBF/betsmart.co.uk Maiden Stakes