  We propose the novel combination of a laser guide and magnetic lens to
transport a cold atomic cloud. We have modelled the loading and guiding of a
launched cloud of cold atoms with the optical dipole force. We discuss the
optimum strategy for loading typically 30% of the atoms from a MOT and guiding
them vertically through 22cm. However, although the atoms are tightly confined
transversely, thermal expansion in the propagation direction still results in a
density loss of two orders of magnitude. By combining the laser guide with a
single impulse from a magnetic lens we show one can actually increase the
density of the guided atoms by a factor of 10.
