INDIAN Spark was only narrowly beaten in the Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup 12 months ago and he can go one better in the Showcase Handicap at Newcastle tomorrow night.

Jim Goldie's sprinter went down by just a neck to Henry Hall last year having finished a creditable eighth to Harmonic Way in the Wokingham Stakes a week earlier.

The seven-year-old took in the big six-furlong handicap at Royal Ascot again last Friday and ran even better to take fourth place this time, beaten three and a quarter lengths by the winner Nice One Clare.

He finished with a flourish there but should not be inconvenienced by a return to the minimum trip.

Obviously nearing the peak of his form, he can gain handsome compensation for his fine Ascot effort in this £30,000 prize.

Duello is on the crest of a wave at the moment and can complete a treble in the Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series Handicap for male amateur riders.

The Martin Pipe-trained 10-year-old has already been successful twice this month, taking a similar 19-runner event at Haydock and a classified stakes at Brighton.

The gelding may be in the twilight of his career but he has hit a purple patch and looks capable of defying a 5lb penalty.

Pipe can complete and across-the-card double with Major Lando in the Jewson Novices' Hurdle (Series Qualifier) at Stratford.

The four-year-old German-bred gelding was an impressive winner at Aintree in May but an expensive failure when beaten a length and a half by Mantusis at Newton Abbot three weeks ago.

Losses can be recouped here.

On Goodwood's evening card, it may pay to side with Funksoulborough in the European Breeders Fund Superior Novice Stakes.

The William Jarvis-trained youngster confirmed the promise of a debut second to Partytime at Leicester when beating Bit Of Luck quite tidily by three-quarters of a length at Redcar two weeks ago.

He looks the type to improve with racing.

Khulan is given another chance to return to something like her best in the Sunley-io Group Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Newmarket.

Sprinting looked like being her game when she faded into fourth place in the seven-furlong Nell Gwyn Stakes won by Lil's Jessy at Newmarket in April but she disappointed behind Harmonic Way at Windsor earlier this month.

Clearly under par that day, she can reward trainer John Dunlop's faith in this six-furlong event.

At Folkestone, Upstream can continue Fulke Johnson Houghton's run of success by opening her account in the Inkerman Risk Gamble Maiden Stakes at Folkestone.

The Blewbury trainer landed a treble at Warwick on Wednesday and looks to have found a winning opportunity for Upstream, who was only beaten a head by Bali Royal in a Brighton handicap recently.