BOMBAY NUTTY heads into Friday’s final of the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix at Sunderland as the fastest semi-final winner after upstaging Vhagar, his kennelmate and ante-post favourite, last week.

Both trained by Mark Wallis for a one-two for the champion trainer in the second semi-final of the 640m annual, Bombay Nutty also helped Imperial Kennels complete semi-final domination in the Grand Prix after their Newinn Cloud won the first semi – and the trainer is delighted with his trio heading into the six-bend Category One decider.

“We’ve got three in there and can’t really have asked for more. Bombay Nutty has always been a classy sort when he gets a run and, with Vhagar getting held up, he was able to dominate and get away. The bitch stayed on well to thankfully to qualify which is what it’s all about, especially after Newinn Cloud did so well in the first semi.

“We’ve always enjoyed taking a team up to Sunderland, even back to its Festival days when the Grand Prix and Classic were held on the same night. We’ve won both, but the Grand Prix has definitely been a favourite!”

Talking of which, with three runners in Friday’s £12,500 final, Wallis is hot favourite to land what would be a sixth victory in the event after wins for Blonde Fletch (2011), Hometown Honey (2013), Bombers Bullet (2018), Coonough Crow (2023) and New Destiny (2025) – and gives all his three a clean bill of health heading into the race.

“They’re all good and we’re looking forward to Friday,” he said. “We had to withdraw Toppers before the semis – he was a touch off-colour – but he’ll be back soon and will join a few of ours at Towcester for the Derby. He’ll be back down in trip for that, of course.”

For the record, Wallis’s Newinn Cloud made all in the first semi-final of the Arc Grand Prix, posting a 15.91sec split on route to a three-quarters of a length success over the staying-on Greenwell Bolt (John Flaherty) in 39.84sec (+20). Third here and into the final was Droopys Cardi (Tom Heilbron).

The Wallis double was then completed by the experienced Bombay Nutty who was soon handy behind Ballymac Sargie (Tom Heilbron), the eventual third, before pacing up to lead off the second bend on his way to a two and a length win of Vhagar, a dual Category One-winning tracker, who recovered well from a first-bend bump. The winning time was 39.65sec (+20).

Trap draw for the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix Final: 1 Newinn Cloud (m), 2 Droopys Cardi (m), 3 Ballymac Sargie (m), 4 Vhagar (m), 5 Bombay Nutty (w), 6 Greenwell Bolt (w).