With the Oxford grading strength at an all-time high, owners will be feeling the pinch as more hounds are being re-trialled.

When the Stadium was short of dogs, any slight dip in performance tended to be ignored to maintain the number of dogs available, but now, racing manager Gary Baiden has taken action with runners he feels have not performed well enough.

The rule will be stringently imposed.

The upsurge in runners has been caused by the influx of new trainers, with Robert Hannan, Paul Clarke, Dean Childs and Terry Kibble coming in to replace Nick Colton.

More than 280 new greyhounds have been registered at Oxford alone this year.

Oxford was 'raided' at Monday's trial session where NGRC security man Danny Lloyd took random samples from 20 hounds. Some time later, stipendary steward Colin Betteridge followed with another six. Nothing sensational, it's just standard practice at all NGRC tracks.

THE forthcoming meeting in aid of the Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust is gaining momentum and has now been confirmed as a 14 race-card on Saturday, December 2.

General manager Steve Rawle will be donating the proceeds of his parachute jump - more than £400 - and the trust is expected to benefit by around £2,000 overall.

More sponsors are still required for this worthy cause.

Good news for bookmakers at the Stadium is that business is picking up.

Reports indicate an improvement in turnover on the rails.

Roll The Dough, trained by Thame handler Terry Kibble, is the Oxford racing office choice as leading fancy to land the Tech-Shop Maiden Trophy when the heats get under way on Tuesday.

Roll The Dough has won four of his six races here, posting a best time of 27.16 in an A1.

However, the draw has not been kind to the locals, with no fewer than five being drawn in the opening heat.

Pictured is Friar Tuck who faces a stiff task against Roll The Dough in the heats of the High-Tech Maiden Trophy at the Stadium on Tuesday.