MAKE sure Moulin de Mougins is at the top of your Bank Holiday betting shortlist for Newcastle today.

While the entertainment in the family picnic area comes courtesy of a fun fair, bouncy castle and magician, the cash to pay for the whole shooting match will hopefully be provided by investing a shilling or two on Patrick Haslam's exciting two-year-old.

I was on hand to see Moulin de Mougins (3.20) take part in a seriously competitive seven-furlong race at York last Thursday, a hugely informative contest because not only did the son of Night Shift look outstanding in the paddock, he also ran a cracking race to finish runner-up.

Tactically it is most interesting that Haslam seemingly has no qualms about whipping the selection out again so quickly, a ploy which only adds to the confidence behind Moulin de Mougins, strongly fancied to pick up the £20,000 Chisholm Bookmakers Blaydon Nursery.

Chris Thornton's stable is running nicely into form boding well for the prospects of Lucindi (5.00) in the closing Springfield Honda Handicap.

A late-maturing filly, Lucindi shaped as if her turn was near by chasing home the well-handicapped Alba Stella over course and distance 10 days ago.

Ripon's Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy has attracted a feeble entry of just four runners, headed by Sir Michael Stoute's improving colt Auditorium (4.00).

Auditorium, who cost a cool 115,000 guineas, recently won as he liked at Pontefract and judged by that super effort there's plenty more to come from Kieren Fallon's mount in the £27,000 six-furlong feature.

Paul Blockley's yard ended a long spell in the wilderness by scooping the £50,000 Great St Wilfred Handicap with Hidden Dragon a week a go last Saturday.

Blockley now has his eyes on the Tote-sponsored Showcase Handicap at Epsom, a five-furlong blitz well within the compass of Hidden Dragon (3.15) as long as he's not too inconvenienced by the tricky downhill track.