SIGNET ACE heads into Monday’s final of the Arena Racing Company Eclipse at Nottingham as the fastest semi-final winner and one of two Kevin Hutton-trained runners in the GBGB Category One decider.

Hutton’s Signet Ace and Forest Gold won their semi-finals in all-the-way fashion on Monday as did the Paul Young-trained Bubbly Apache to set up a superb race for the £6,500 first prize over 500m – but it was the Arc Select Stakes and Ladbrokes Winter Derby winner who impressed most on the clock.

Racing in the second semi-final, Signet Ace blasted to a fastest-of-the-night 4.79sec split to head his rivals into the first bend and the BresBet Steel City Cup third was near headed as he crossed the line some nine and a half lengths in front of Hardy Rebel (Angela Harrison) in 29.19sec (+40).

Kennelmate Forest Gold then landed the Hutton double in the third semi-final as the BresBet Steel City Cup champion also showed good pace up to win by a length and a quarter from Nathan Hunt’s Dapper Rodney in 29.41sec (+40).

Earlier, Bubbly Apache made it six wins from six starts at Notts as the Arc Puppy Classic victor produced a runaway five-length victory over Broadstrand Ryan in 29.21sec (+40). The latter is trained by Romford handler Nathan Hunt who therefore matches Kevin Hutton’s feat in having two finalists in Monday’s decider.

Nottingham general manager David Evans said: “We’re all looking forward to what should be a great night’s racing here next week – and continues what is a busy period for us building up to the National Sprint.

“Incidentally, the prize-money for that competition is up to £5,000 this year and looks to be warming up nicely given the quality of sprinters we’ve had here for trials and races.

“As for the Eclipse, we know it has a great roll of honour dating back to 1987 when sponsored by former local bookmaker Peter Derrick. The first winner was Holiday Hope trained by the late Pat Ryan.

“Monday’s final is all quality and the betting suggests Paul Young and Kevin Hutton have major chances again in an event they’ve won before. They’ve got the market leaders this year, although the Eclipse has thrown up a few surprises over the years – in 1994 Spit It Out won at 100-1 and only eight clear favourites have won in the last 32 runnings.

“With Signet Ace recording the fastest sectional time here at Nottingham in the heats he’d have to be fancied to lead up along with Bubbly Apache – and both are looking to go through the competition unbeaten which would be some feat.

“Good luck to the connections of all Monday’s Arena Racing Company Eclipse finalists.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=379693&raceId=793792

Trap draw for Monday’s final: 1 Broadstrand Ryan, 2 Signet Ace, 3 Forest Gold, 4 Dapper Rodney, 5 Hardy Rebel (m), 6 Bubbly Apache (m).