IT was a quiet start to the week until Ben Curtis lit up Carlisle on Tuesday evening, riding a magnificent 2,645-1 four-timer at Carlisle.

A former joint champion apprentice in Ireland before making the move to Britain, Curtis got the day off to a flyer aboard Les Eyre's Star Ascending in the opening Carr's Group Handicap.

With the stable having been without a win since July, Eyre's charge stayed on strongly under the Thirsk-based rider close home to break his duck at the 10th attempt.

Diatomic finally came good for trainer Tom Dascombe in the Kingmoor Park and Carlisle Youth Zone Handicap.

The son of Bushranger had been placed seven times from 19 previous starts, but had never found the number one spot.

Runner-up four times on the spin between early July and late August, the 8-1 shot needed to bounce back from a disappointing run at Musselburgh and knuckled down well for Curtis to see off Rose Acclaim by a length and a quarter.

Curtis' hat-trick strike came aboard Alan Swinbank's In Focus in the Jopson's Jewellers Handicap, before completing his excellent day's work on 5-2 favourite Billy Ranger for the same trainer in the concluding Yesss Electricals Handicap, striking as a horse his shrewd trainer will do well with.

Earlier in the evening, Ann Duffield, who has enjoyed a good season with her two-year-olds, added another on the board as Ninetta provided her with another juvenile winner in the Baines Wilson LLP Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Rosina looks the pick of her crop and she will be aiming to extend her winning run at Ayr later in the week, but Ninetta is bred to be more than just a precocious type.

A daughter of Derby winner New Approach, her dam, Pine Chip, is a full sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Peintre Celebre.

Despite that breeding, Ninetta was a relative bargain at 60,000 guineas and made a very pleasing debut at Beverley a fortnight ago.

Sent off the 8-11 favourite to beat just four rivals, the result was never really in any doubt as she made all the running.

"She's lovely, she ran really, really well first time at Beverley, but she needs every inch of this trip (seven furlongs)", Duffield said.

"She's by New Approach out of a full sister to Peintre Celebre. She's got a blue-blooded family and did that really well.

"Hopefully, she'll be even better next year, but I'm very pleased with her.

"I wouldn't rule out another run, we'll see how she takes that. We could look to step her up in trip, but if she didn't run again it wouldn't worry us.

"Her owner's ambition was to win a race at two with her, though, so that's job done.

"She's very valuable."

It was Beverley's turn to race on Wednesday and the jockey to follow here was Joe Fanning, who rode a fine treble on the afternoon, two for his boss Mark Johnston.

The first winner for the Middleham trainer was Renfrew Street in the maiden, a promising individual who had shown clear ability on her debut run, and the trainer was delighted, saying: "Joe said Renfrew Street had the run of the race and we'll take her back home and see how the handicapper treats her before deciding where she runs next."

The Johnston/Fanning double was completed in the feature handicap with Kiltara, who made all the running under an assured ride, as you would expect from Fanning, leaving the trainer to say: "You never know after two runs on the AW whether they can carry their handicap marks onto the turf, but Kiltara clearly has. She ran well in a stronger race at Goodwood and this step up in trip clearly suited her."

As the nights start to draw in, the jumping will start to step up a gear and Jedd O'Keeffe, who has enjoyed a fine summer with his Flat runners, showed his versatility as a trainer by sending out Waterclock to land the maiden hurdle at Kelso on Wednesday evening. The horse had won at Beverley earlier in the season.

It's a big weekend for northern racing as the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup takes centre stage tomorrow and Keith Dalgleish looks to keep the prize in Scotland.

Dalgleish, who trains an hour north-east of Ayr at Carluke, will attempt to become the first Scottish-based trainer to win the famed sprint since 1975.

That was the year of Roman Warrior, who was sent across the road from Cree Lodge Stables by trainer Neil Angus to win under 10st.

Dalgleish's contender is on a hat-trick and is also a winner at the course, and was described by his trainer as "in terrific form right now".

"I don't know what it was, but he just clicked and has improved through the year," said Dalgleish.

"It could be that he loves Chester as he has won his last two races there under Phillip Makin, off 94 and 98. He's up to 103 now and the plan is to go for the Ayr Gold Cup this Saturday.

"It's a race where you need a bit of luck and obviously the straight Ayr track over six furlongs is different to an extended seven furlongs at the Roodee. But he's an Ayr course winner, which has to count for something. It looks a very hot renewal, but he will be competitive."