Vhagar heads Sunderland's Grand Prix market

Vhagar bids to make it four Grand Prix wins in seven for Wallis

There has been a stranglehold on the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix in recent years for Mark Wallis. Bombers Bullet picked up the prize in 2018, Coonough Crow in 2023 and New Destiny last year made it three wins in the last six runnings of the race, with 2020 and 2021 not seeing the contest run.

Three of the top four in the ante-post market this year belong to Wallis. They are headed by Vhagar who clocked 39.39 in a recent trial spin. New Destiny produced a time 10 spots quicker in her first look at the track last year before her track record-breaking run in the final.

The biggest threat to her in the market is her own kennelmate Table Toppers. The 2025 Blue Riband winner made an excellent start over six bends when making the final of the Coal Essex Vase in January. He didn't break 40 seconds in a trial, so is going to need to step up on that.

Newinn Cloud is the third of the Wallis team within the top four in the market. He was a finalist in this competition last year, finishing third. He has only been seen in race action once so far in 2026, a 500m contest at Towcester last weekend. 

It is just John Flaherty's Jacktavern Lab who noses his way into the betting amongst the Wallis team. A regular winner over the 640m trip at Newcastle, he was hugely impressive with a 39.75 success over the same trip at Sunderland on Friday night. 

One that catches the eye at a massive price for those looking for an outsider is Proper Rockett. He only has a 480m win in this country for Savva Roberts but he showed his best form over 668m at Waterford in times that tie in well with the likes of Chasing Rachel and Jet Stream Jane who are both solid six-bend open race winners. 

Yvonne Bell is hoping that her youngster Zari Newinn is capable of taking the step up in class in his stride. 

“It’s a massive step up for him,” said Bell. 

“We’ve always viewed him as a greyhound with the ability to stay further than the standard trip, and he does. But he can be so unreliable at the traps as we saw last week, and he has a tendency to find trouble during a race. 

“There’s no doubt he has great potential, and I’d love him to show us that potential in the Grand Prix. It has taken him a while to get used to the track at Sunderland, but I think he’s there now. 

“We’re in it to win it, and if he can get his trapping paws on for Friday’s heat you never know. “But the potential is there, we just have to unlock it.”

Ante-post best prices

8/13 Vhagar

7/1 Table Toppers

10/1 Jacktavern Lab

12/1 Newinn Cloud

16/1 Ballymac Sargie

20/1 Bombay Nutty

22/1 Bombay Fantasy

33/1 Greenwell Bolt

40/1 Glengar Lisa, Witton Gucci, Zenith Legend

50/1 Killieford Goram, Noelles Glenlo, Zenith Magic

66/1 Borna Parachute, Romeo Alonso, Zari Newinn

80/1 Droopys Cardi

125/1 Proper Rockett

150/1 Sheilas Sky

200/1 Anglesey Savana, Harness Bell, Maes Maya, Not To Be