Tonight’s meeting from Sunderland is the second most lucrative in the entire racing calendar and features a string of valuable finals over a variety over different distances.

By the standards of modern racing, the William Hill Classic is a new boy on the block, this is its tenth anniversary. The Grand Prix was originally an event staged at Walthamstow in 1945, though it too celebrates its tenth running in the North East.

Race 1 640m – a lap and a half

The first race is for the the stayers and features a dog who has so far proved to be an expensive failure – Coolavanny Smash. He was bought for just under £30K but has won only three of his 19 races to date. But the Guru remains unconvinced and would have a sneaky fancy for Bramble Rafa who will go to traps at around 4-1. Feeling a bit bolder, Quivering Joe could be as big as 20-1.

Favourite: Coolavanny Smash  (T1) Outsider: Quivering Joe (T1) Guru Guide: Bramble Rafa  (T2)

Race 2 450m – just over a lap

The bookies would have Forest Chunk as their likely winner here. He runs from trap one and has shown plenty of potential in his early races to date. But he has only won one of his first seven and the Guru is looking elsewhere for his inspiration. That could come from the Geordie raider Ginas Lad. The blue jacketed runner is one of Newcastle’s finest and will probably start at odds somewhere between 3-1 and 4-1.

Favourite: Forest Chunk  (T1) Outsider: Loganator (T3) Guru Guide: Ginas Lad  (T2)

Race 3 828m – just over two laps

The third race is the night’s longest and features one of the most popular runners in the North East, Shallam Delano. Angela Harrison’s runner will be contesting his 54th race and this would be win 27 – some record. This is at the far edge of his stamina range and he could be in trouble if he doesn’t lead soon.  His biggest danger is Slick Strauss, who never runs a bad race, and last year’s TV Trophy winner Borna Mindy.

Favourite: Shellam Delano  (T6) Outsider: Princess Katie (T5) Guru Guide: Shellam Delano  (T6)

Race 4 450m – just over a lap

This a very tough race to call and probably falls into the category of ‘who leads probably wins’. The betting seems to favourite Haydeezflyer would certainly take all the catching if he were to find himself in front. But if you fancy a value bet, Ballybee Briany, who will start at around 6-1 might be a better option

Favourite: Haydeezflyer  (T1) Outsider: Tom Tom Charlie (T2) Guru Guide: Ballybee Briany  (T5)

Race 5 261m – half a lap

The first of the finals and this one is for the pure sprinters. They will cover the 261m in less than 16 seconds and Roxholme Hat, who won his qualifying race in the quickest time, will probably start at the bookies favourite. But this really is a ‘who blinks’ contest and he has a very worthy adversary in local lad Precisely who has a better draw in trap two. But is Walk The Talk, who is a tad inconsistent, gets it right – he’ll be gone!

Favourite: Roxholme Hat  (T3) Outsider: Racy Rhythm (T6) Guru Guide: Precisely  (T2)

Race 6 450m – just over a lap

The final of the puppy competition sees two of the most exciting young dogs in training. Droopys Expert has five races to his name and will probably start favourite. Roxholme Nidge is looking to win for the third time in four races. The betting will start at 10-1 for the next most fancied runner. Given the odds on Expert, there must be a strong temptation to side with Nidge who will probably start at around 2-1.

Favourite: Droopys Expert  (T4) Outsider: March On Poppie (T5) Guru Guide: Roxholme Nidge (T2)

Race 7 640m – a lap and a half

The Grand Prix final is possibly the most interesting race on the card and features a fairytale story with young Annallesse Thompson’s Swift Hansel likely to start favourite with Cloran Paddy, handled by seven times Derby winning trainer Charlie Lister OBE as her biggest danger. So far Hansel has not put a paw wrong, nor can he afford to. Expect him to trap in front and lead with Cloran Paddy somewhere down the field with a power packed finish. But is is far from a two runner race. Complete outsider Geelo Jenga ran astonishingly well to win her semi final and looks tremendous value at 14-1

Favourite: Swift Hansel  (T2) Outsider: Geelo Jenga (T3) Guru Guide: Swift Hansel  (T2)

Race 8 450m – just over a lap

The feature race of the evening worth £25,000 to the winner is the William Hill Classic. The three semi final winners are drawn in the outside traps and traps four and five are virtually inseparable in the betting.

They won their semi finals in exactly the same time – 27.02 seconds – and if they both leave the traps in similar fashion we could well have a humdinger. The draw narrowly favours Shadow, unless of course they get in each others way. . . .

Favourite: Newinn Shadow  (T4) Outsider: Russelena Planet (T3) Guru Guide: Newinn Shadow  (T4)