MARK WALLIS will be doubly handed in Good Friday’s Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final at Sunderland after New Destiny led home Newinn Cloud for a kennel one-two to leave the former a red-hot favourite to take the £12,500 prize.

The three-time Category One winner represents the kennel which struck in 2023 with Coonough Crow and Joanne Wilson, regional general manager for Sunderland’s owners Arc, is delighted the champion trainer and his team has made the journey to take on the north east’s best stayers – and is looking forward to a great night on Friday, kicking off the Easter holiday period.

“It’s going to be another great Category One finals night here and we’re delighted the Grand Prix has been supported again by Mark (Wallis) – and he has two through to the final. However, it’s also fantastic that one of our trainers, Dean Blackbird, has a challenger. It gives Sunderland home interest in the Grand Prix final against three runners from Newcastle and Mark’s two.

“Of course, with others finals on the card we’re assured of a great atmosphere and there’ll be strong local support from Sunderland trainers on the night.

“They’ll be taking on greyhounds such as Sunnyside Jayden for Ted Soppitt and Hillside Lily for Martin Stout, while Tom Heilbron, who is a huge supporter of Sunderland, has runners in each of the three finals on the night including in the SR Transport Dual Distance Final. This has been sponsored by trainer Savva Roberts’s company and it’s just a shame his track record holder for the trip, Stonepark Hoffa, failed to qualify for the final but hopefully we’ll see him on the supporting card.

“No doubt on the night, my heart and that of many others will be with Tom’s Links Maverick. He won his first open race here at Sunderland as a young pup so it’s always special to see him run here – he goes in the Arena Racing Company 450 Final.”

Wilson added: “We now race five times a week and run regular open-race cards on Friday nights which are always well supported and certainly bring a crowd in – it gives the place that special buzz!

“Good Friday looks to be a busy night with the restaurant nearly sold out and the bar packages filling up. We’ll also have our usual team of retired racers to meet and greet racegoers.”

Back to the Arc Grand Prix and New Destiny (2-9F) heads into Friday’s final having posted 39.15sec (normal) in winning her semi-final, a time just one hundredth of a second slower than her heat win. In landing the first semi-final, the October 2021 daughter of Grangeview Ten and Coonough Dolly led home kennelmate Newinn Cloud by seven and a half lengths, with Ballymac Sargie (Tom Heilbron) qualifying in third.

My Own Theory (18-1) struck in the second semi-final as the Newcastle representative landed the spoils for Paul Singlewood, the November 2022 daughter of Boyhero and Slaneyside Fergi producing a strong-running performance to come through off the last bend for a three-and-a-half length win from Killieford Goram (Dean Blackbird) and Makeit Mead (Ray Hale) in 39.27sec (normal).

Trap draw for Friday’s Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final: 1 Killieford Goram, 2 New Destiny, 3 Ballymac Sargie (m), 4 My Own Theory (m), 5 Makeit Mead (m), 6 Newinn Cloud (w).