MARK WALLIS heads into Friday’s semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix at Sunderland with a huge hand as the 16-time champion trainer eyes a third victory in the competition in four years – and a sixth in all.

Three of the four six-bend heats went to Wallis-trained runners last week and he looks set fair in the £12,500-to-the-winner Category One in a bid to add to recent victories in the 640m competition with Coonough Crow (2023) and last year’s champion New Destiny, albeit three of his four semi-finalists will meet in a red-hot second semi at the Wearside venue on Friday.

They are heat winners Vhagar (39.18sec) and Bombay Nutty (39.78sec), plus kennelmate Table Toppers, who chased home the Jimmy Fenwick-trained Zenith Magic (40.10sec) in heat one. The other heat winner, the Wallis-trained Newinn Cloud (39.97sec) goes in the second semi, looking to make it through to a second successive ARC Grand Prix final after finishing third to New Destiny last year.

“It’s shaping up to be another great ARC Grand Prix here,” said Joanne Wilson, regional general manager for Sunderland’s owners ARC, “and it’s been great to welcome back Mark’s (Wallis) team again. They’ve made the journey north once more and certainly have every intention to take home the trophy back south again!

“However, the north east trainers – especially from Newcastle – are keen on keeping the Grand Prix trophy back up here and Friday’s semi-finals will no doubt tell us more, but Mark Wallis is definitely in the driving seat! His three winners dominated the first round and, remember, not only did New Destiny win this event 12 months ago, she also set a new track record of 38.79sec in the process.

“We had a very good crowd in on Good Friday – and a busy Easter weekend across the board – and hopefully we’ll be well supported again this week. There’s a 450m competition running alongside the Grand Prix with heats and final coming to a close on finals night here on Friday, April 17.

Trap draw for Friday’s Arena Racing Company Grand Prix semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Proper Rockett, 2 Newinn Cloud, 3 Droopys Cardi (m), 4 Zenith Magic (m), 5 Jacktavern Lad (w), 6 Greenwell Bolt (w).

Second semi: 1 Table Toppers, 2 Ballymac Sargie (m), 3 Vhagar (m), 4 Bombay Nutty (m), 5 Bombay Fantasy (m), 6 Sheilas Sky (w).