Mungo Park to score with late surge

Take Mungo Park to win the five-furlong Coral Sprint at Newcastle today on his first start for new connections.

This big, strong gelding, who won twice over course and distance as well as scoring at Beverley and Nottingham for Lynda Ramsden last season, was bought for 25,000 guineas last October and sent to be trained by Michael Dods.

On his final start last term, off a mark of 78, the five-year-old kept on well in the closing stages to finish third, beaten two and three-quarter lengths behind Bowlers Boy at Pontefract.

Mungo Park runs off 77 this afternoon - his last win came off the same mark - and is taken to come with his customary late rattle to land this "Showcase" handicap.

Jack Berry has his two-year-olds in their usual good form in his last season as master of Moss Side stables.

Singsong won well for the yard at Doncaster on Saturday and is an obvious pointer to Red Sun in the EBF Maiden - a race Berry won last year with the smart Speedy James.

Whether or not Red Sun turns out to be as good as Speedy James only time will tell but he is sure to know his job.

Flat Top, who regained the winning thread with an impressive 16-length success from Jymjam Johnny over this course and distance last time, has sound claims to follow up in the Polyflor Handicap over three miles.

The rejuvenated Court Melody is a good bet to register his fourth course and distance victory in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup over an extended three miles at Sandown Park.

On his last visit to the Esher track, for the Horse and Hound Grand Military Gold Cup earlier this month, the Paul Nicholls-trained 11-year-old beat Druid's Brook in convincing fashion by three lengths.

He had refused to race on his two previous starts but has been freshened up by a spell of hunting.

Now he has regained form, Court Melody looks too good for some moderate rivals.

Judged on his one-and-a-half-length second to Space Trucker in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, Dines looks a "good thing" to initiate a treble for Nicholls in the opening Summit Conferences and Meetings Novices' Chase.

Irbee can provided the middle leg of the three-timer in the Mousetrap Challenge Cup Novices' Chase.

Bon Ami heads a field of 13 at the five-day entry stage for the Listed Field Marshal Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The Jack Berry-trained three-year-old is reported to have wintered well by the trainer's son and assistant Alan who is hopeful of a positive performance.