BLUNSDON’S Abbey Stadium hosts one of its biggest nights of the year this evening with the final of the 2017 Calne Racing Arc taking place at the track.

The 480m race is the culmination of a series of racing at the Swindon track, which saw six heats and the semi finals decide the sextet to contest tonight’s final (9.08pm), which brings a first prize of £8,000.

The race moved to Swindon in 2009 following the closure of the Walthamstow track and is often seen as something of a pointer for the Greyhound Derby which will take place at the Towcester track for the first time this year on July 1 The 9/4 favourite Ballymac Brogan gave trainer Seamus Cahill the top prize last year, his first Arc success in 10 years since the triumph of Milldean Billy in 2006.

This year’s renewal features a number of Irish entries, one of whom is red-hot favourite Garryvoe Bobby, trained by Graham Holland.

The lightly-raced competitor won from traps three and one in his heat and semi final, boasts and unblemished record and returns to trap one, making him the rival to beat.

Jason Bloomfield’s Savana Donie looks likely to be the biggest priced dog in the race after overcoming a tough semi-final draw to take trap two, while Charlie Lister’s Oscar Whisky is a multiple category one finalist, winning the All England Cup at Newcastle in October last year and being edged out by Barricane Tiger for the Sussex Cup at Hove and started as the ante-post favourite.

Twice a runner up in his heat and semi final, Dorotas Del Mar is the youngest in the race for trainer Kevin Hutton in trap four, while Patrick Janssens’ Barricane Tiger ran away with his semi final, which was almost a length faster than his rivals.

Black Zack was a surprise 14/1 winner of his semi-final, Richard Rees’ dog highlighting his ability a recent 28.48 trial and top-grade form at home track Hove.

Tonight’s card

6.38 480m Flat (Hcp): Finnery Ace, Glowing Bud, Legend Of Lucy, Fealesuir Fungi, Ardrahan Zeann, Sapphire Belle.

6.56 480m Flat (A3): Sunrise Eclipse, Clonlusk George, Suirview Arnie, Beanos Razl, Mohican Deb, Lacken Tiger.

7.11 480m Flat (OR): Newlawn Peter, Nothing To Fear, Our Sam Alec, Swift Europe, Swithins Brae, Windy Winston.

7.26 737m Flat (OR): Huarache Madison, Trapper Kate, Elusive Pearl, Snaffi Jack, Swift Slaney, Slick Sebastian.

7.43 480m Flat (OR): Tynwald Baz, Castell Henry, Tommys Approach, Blackstone Rock, Astute Missile, Sab Miller.

7.59 285m Flat (OR): Jumeirah Maximus, Skywalker Manner, Ela Ela Genie, Courts Ad, Loggies Ranger, Skywalker Archie.

8.16 480m Flat (OR): Ballintee Annie, Droopys Costa, Ribble Aon, Image Carranna, Droopys Two, Huarache Finn.

8.33 685m Flat (OR): Jet Stream Bound, Slick Strauss, Black Duggan, Glideaway Bertie, Droopys Tamera, Slippery Louise.

8.51 509m Flat (OR): Empress Katie, Mad For It, Sneezys Martin, Kranky Damo, Ballymac Lyster, Hard Bought.

9.08 480m Flat (OR): Garryvoe Bobby, Savana Donie, Oscar Whisky, Dorotas Del Mar, Barricane Tiger, Black Zack.

9.24 480m Flat (A4): Droopys Rival, Darceys Bobby, Suirview Len, Wagga Royal, Sup Brian, Athboy Rumble.