Len Lungo, who made a bit of history as the first Scottish trainer to reach 60 winners in a season at Hexham last week, can get the new jumps season off to a flyer with Contract Scotland at Newcastle this evening.

Lungo's hurdler, who hadn't been getting home on soft ground, appreciated the quicker ground when scoring at Hexham recently and he can take the Parklands Golf Novices Handicap Hurdle.

That Hexham form is already working out well with third-placed Log On Intersky and fourth-placed Santa Lucia both showing improved form at Perth last week.

Conditions here will again be very much to his liking and he's taken to beat Jonjo O'Neill's Hurricane Bay, who is open to plenty of improvement.

Tony Dobbin, who rides the gelding, can be on the mark earlier in the evening with Victoria's Boy in the Gosforth Decorating And Building Services Handicap Chase over three miles.

From the Tim Walford stable that had a winner at Wetherby last week, the nine-year-old seems to reserve his best efforts for a sound surface.

Although well beaten on easy ground last time, a reproduction of his previous second to Harry Hotspur over this trip on good to firm at Huntingdon should be good enough in a modest event.

Dobbin could initiate a three- timer aboard Nicky Richards' Copperpot in the opening Gosforth Classified Hurdle over two and a half miles.

He turned in a much more encouraging effort on only his third outing to date behind the promising Jungle Jinks at Carlisle last time and he won't need to improve too much for his bang in-form yard to collect this time.

Henrianjames, a ready winner of an admittedly modest race over course and distance last time, can follow up in the Brandling House Novices Chase over two miles.

Mary Reveley's seven-year-old bounced off the fast ground to win with plenty in hand that day and he looks the type physically who should have further improvement in him.

At Wolverhampton Silver Mascot can put a poor run when badly drawn firmly behind him by taking the competitive-looking six furlong handicap at 3.20.

Reg Hollinshead's sprinter is much better judged on an excellent second in a decent handicap at Kempton on his previous start and he has plenty of form on Fibresand.

Hughie Morrison's Cal Mac, who showed plenty of ability on his final start of last year, looks an interesting runner on his All-Weather debut in the opening maiden over the extended mile.

Although unraced so far this term, his shrewd handler can be relied on to have him fit and ready for this outing and the booking of Jimmy Fortune catches the eye.

Windsor stages a typically trappy card but it could pay to side with Barry Hills' juvenile Mount Hillaby, who ran well enough on her debut at Newmarket in a fair race to suggest she would have a good chance in the opening fillies' race at 5.40.

* Mark Johnston's Sagitta 2000 Guineas hope Love Regardless pleased connections in a workout under big-race jockey Kevin Darley at Ripon yesterday.

The son of Storm Bird, winner of a Newcastle maiden on his only start to date, galloped there last week, after which the Middleham trainer thought the colt needed another spin to put him spot on for Saturday's Classic.

''He came on fine this morning,'' Johnston said. ''We were very happy we took him. He still had a blow after it so he needed it.

''Everything is now on track and on target.''

Love Regardless is a 7-1 chance with William Hill for the 2000 Guineas.

Johnston is still mulling over the options available to his progressive three-year-old Simeon, who took Sandown's Heathorns Classic Trial in good style on Friday.

Simeon is not entered in the Vodafone Derby but there is a supplementary stage the week before the Epsom Classic when horses can be added to the field at a cost of £90,000.

''He definitely won't run before the beginning of June so we can sit back and see how things pan out and consider any ideas of supplementing him for any of the big ones. It's very much up to the owners,'' the trainer said.

''There are plenty of options.''

Johnston's highly-regarded Fight Your Corner disappointed at Newmarket on his reappearance and could be sent on a retrieving mission to York next month.

''He seems fine and could go straight to the Dante, he could go to France, he holds a few entries,'' he added.

''I've still got faith in him that he's a very good horse. Just try and forget the last run.''