SIGNET ACE consolidated his position as a Greyhound of the Year contender by completing a brilliant unbeaten run through the Arena Racing Company Eclipse at Nottingham on Monday.

The £6,500-to-the-winner GBGB Category One final had been originally slated for last week but a frozen track forced the meeting to be cancelled. However, Signet Ace followed up impressive wins in heat and semi-final a fortnight ago to run out a comfortable winner once pacing up to lead into the first bend.

Trained by Kevin Hutton and part-owned by the trainer and Mark Gilbert, the Arc Select Stakes and Ladbrokes Winter Derby winner raced to another quick 4.80sec sectional before stretching out to win by six and three-quarter lengths from the Nathan Hunt-trained pair of Broadstrand Ryan and Dapper Rodney in 29.41 (+20).

Winning trainer Kevin Hutton said: “It was another breathtaking performance from Ace and we couldn’t be more proud of him. To be fair our own Forest Gold gave chase for a long way but just tired on the run for home. However for the kennel to get first and fourth in the Eclipse after Forest Gold had won the (BresBet) Steel City Cup was great.

“All being well Signet Ace will be aimed at the Blue Riband at Towcester next month.”

Part-owner Gilbert was also a delighted man after the choicely bred September 18 son of Laughil Blake and Forest Natalee had lifted his third major title of the year.

Gilbert said: “I really wanted something from Ace’s mother as she’d won the Irish Oaks and was a member of an exceptional litter. Kevin was kind enough to sell me a half share at three months old and I was lucky enough to pick Ace in the litter.

“He’s been a dream to own and really does have everything you would look for in a greyhound – he has exceptional early pace and stays the 500m well. I thought we were really unlucky this year in the Derby, but I’m glad to see since he’s shown what a great greyhound he is.

“I would like to thank Kevin (Hutton) and his team as they’ve done an excellent job in training him. He’s not been over-raced, so we hope to get one more Derby out of him and the plan is to head to Towcester before then, too.”

The Arc Eclipse Final was supported by heats of the Arc National Sprint where the Patrick Janssens-trained Scurry Gold Cup winner Crossfield Dusty (17.58sec +10) was quickest, while the heat winners also included reigning GBGB Sprinter of the Year Shrewd Call (17.90sec) for David Mullins.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=380133&raceId=797532