Willie Mullins with Plumpton runner and Paul Nicholls duo out to overcome long layoffs - punting pointers for Monday

Punting pointers for Monday's meetings . . .

Newcastle: Cunha aiming to rule with The Kamikaze King

Dylan Cunha has been banging in the winners and will hope a first career success awaits The Kamikaze King in the mile handicap (7.30).

Three of Cunha's last four runners have won, including Silver Sword in a turf handicap at Meydan on Friday.

The Kamikaze King has yet to visit the winner's enclosure in seven starts, although he came close when a length third to Take The Boat at Kempton last month. He is now rated 3lb lower than for that effort and Kyle Strydom, who rode him that day, returns to the saddle.

The three-year-old son of Kameko, who was last of six under Billy Loughnane at Wolverhampton last time, faces eight rivals. They include the Tony Carroll-trained Magna, who has finished second on her last two outings.

The Kamikaze King19:30 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Kyle Strydom Tnr: Dylan Cunha

Newcastle stat: trainer to note in handicaps

Trainer Stella Barclay is 3-5 (60 per cent) in open handicaps at Newcastle this year and saddles Bossy Parker in the 7f contest (6.30).

Bossy Parker18:30 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Callum Shepherd Tnr: Stella Barclay

Plumpton: Mullins eyes winning start to massive week

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has plenty of interest at the Cheltenham Festival, but before that he has his first runner at Plumpton, where the unbeaten More Coko lines up in the 2m4½f novice hurdle (2.30).

The five-year-old, who will be ridden by the trainer's son Patrick, will take on four rivals in his attempt to follow up last month's success at Carlisle, where he scored by a convincing three and three-quarter lengths on his first appearance outside Ireland.

An impressive bumper winner at Tramore in August, More Coko made a successful hurdling debut at the same track on New Year's Day.

More Coko14:30 Plumpton

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Jky: Mr P W Mullins Tnr: W P Mullins

Stratford: Nicholls duo out to overcome long layoffs

Paul Nicholls has been successful in all but one of the handicap chases he has contested at the track this season and has two chances on the card.

Stratagem makes his first start since May in the 2m6½f handicap chase (2.20) under his owner David Maxwell. The nine-year-old was fourth in a hunter chase at this course 283 days ago.

All six of his opponents have race fitness on their side, although at least Stratagem is no stranger to winning, having done so five times in 17 starts.

Nicholls, who is 3-4 in handicap chases at the track this term, also saddles Cat Tiger in the 2m1f contest (3.50).

Also owned and ridden by Maxwell, the 11-year-old won five times in his first spell with Nicholls, before time with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, and then Sam Loxton.

Stratford stat: red-hot Cannon worth following

Following Tom Cannon at Stratford this season has yielded a profit of £24.50 to a £1 level stake, with four wins from ten rides. He partners Believitanducan in the 2m2½f juvenile hurdle (1.50).

Believitanducan13:50 Stratford

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Jky: Tom Cannon Tnr: Alan King

Taunton: Eton Blue back over hurdles for in-form Baker

George Baker has been in red-hot form and will be hoping Eton Blue can register a first win in 18 months in the 2m½f maiden hurdle (2.40).

The Epsom-based trainer boasts a healthy 45 per cent strike-rate (5-11) in the past fortnight, although Eton Blue has not been successful since winning by a neck at Brighton in September 2023.

The seven-year-old son of Starspangledbanner is on an eight-race winless run and finished sixth of 12 on the all-weather at Kempton last month. He returns to hurdles here for the first time since running at Huntingdon in November 2022.

Baker said: "It'll be our first jumps runner from our new yard in Epsom and we're looking forward to getting him back over hurdles. He's a cool horse and we've waited for better ground. He's been running nicely on the Flat and has schooled well. We don't know how long our good run will last but we'll do our best to continue it."