DIANE HENRY will be doubly handed in tonight’s Arc Grand Prix Final at Sunderland after her Savana Heross set the standard in the semi-finals of the GBGB Category One event at the Wearside track.

Towcester trainer Henry has two chances to land the £12,500 prize, including that of kennelmate Savanna Jazz, after reigning champion Coonough Crow narrowly missed out in a bid to successfully defend her title having posted the fastest time in the heats the previous week.

Mark Wallis’s bitch finished third in what proved a pivotal second semi-final which went to the Richard Wales-trained Farneys Willie who, along with Henry’s Savana Jazz, finished fastest of all to catch Aayamza Sydney (John Mullins) and Coonough Crow, the latter bumped as the winner made his crucial move off the last bend.

Swooping to the front, Farneys Willie scored by a length from Savana Jazz, the pair securing places in the final ahead of Coonough Crow and Aayamza Sydney. The winning time was 39.75sec (+20).

A July 2021 son of Out Of Range ASB and Rathronan Abbey, Farneys Willie was formerly trained by Kevin Boon before joining Richard Wales and has bounced back from a fall in the heats of the Queen Mother Cup behind Savana Heross, eventual winner of the Sheffield competition, and fastest in Friday’s semis at Sunderland.

Diane Henry’s powerful sort, a May 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Blundel Spark, was always bossing proceedings in the third semi off the back of a slick exit and made all to score by three and a quarter lengths from keeping on British-bred runner Greenwich Ange (John Flaherty) in a fastest-of-the-session 39.39sec (+20).

The first semi-final went to Doncaster raider Agile Ange who produced a stirring off-the-pace victory to land the odds in 39.67sec (+20), the March 2022 daughter of Pestana and Greenwell Jean crossing the line two lengths clear of Coppice Kaiser (Jimmy Fenwick).

Early leaders Knockalton Duza (Darren Little) and Savana Shay (Diane Henry) finished third and fourth respectively here, with victory going to the Debbie Calvert-trained youngest runner in Friday’s decider.

Ian Walton, Newcastle’s general manager but also overseeing the major open-race competitions at sister track Sunderland, has been delighted how the 640m annual has progressed and is looking forward to the final.

He said: “It’s been another well supported competition at Sunderland with trainers throughout the UK fielding runners.

“It was disappointing to see last year’s Coonough Crow not make it through to try and make it back-to-back wins, but you’d have to say both Farneys Willie and Savana Jazz ran well in what was a really good semi-final.

“The Grand Prix has gone from strength to strength in recent years and we look forward to another brilliant final. Best of luck to all the connections taking part.”

Trap draw for the Arc Grand Prix Final: 1 Savana Heross, 2 Greenwell Ange (m), 3 Farneys Willie (m), 4 Coppice Kaiser (w), 5 Agile Ange (w), 6 Savana Jazz (w).