Positive Step will lead Oxford's challenge in the £8,000 William Hill Pall Mall which gets under way next week.

The Maurice Massey-trained white and black dog, who has twice been beaten by the other local hope Isle Of Tara, gained sweet revenge with victory on Tuesday posting an impressive 26.69.

It's a performance he will have to maintain as there are sure to be plenty more including Trafalgar Cup winner Drink Up Zorro who will again be to the fore after a recent 26.81 trial.

The prestigious Group one event gets under way on Thursday with the opening heats for the 36 entries which close at noon on Monday.

  • THE equine flu strain which is believed to be the cause of the death of two greyhounds, has led to the NGRC issuing every track and trainer with powerful disinfectant.

The Oxford kennels will also be dee-cleaned.

  • QUICK-thinking hare driver Luke Morrell saved a couple of tricky situations during trials.

First, he spotted a cat on the track which was quickly removed by staff and then this week a dog from the Terry Atkins kennel escaped and ran on to the track with a trial in progress.

The hare was quickly halted to save what could have been nasty situation.

In the past, foxes, rabbits and pigeons have held up races.

  • THE Cheltenham Festival means there will, be a change of race times for Wednesday's BAGS meeting.

The first race will now go off at 2.29pm instead of 2.18.

All the festival races will be shown on the TV monitors and, of course, the track betting shop will be open.

  • LOOK out for Penny's Ginger. The Tony Magnasco trained newcomer posted a superb 27.19 when winning a trial by seven lengths.
  • ANGIE Kibble took the honours with four winners at Wednesday's BAGS meeting just ahead of Ron Bicknell and Michael Peterson who grabbed hat-tricks.
  • TRAINER Paddy Curtin's highly promising bitch, Glenroe Sandra, will start an open race campaign ahead of the Oaks, while former A1 bitch Princess Mirka has whelped a litter of four to top Australian stud dog Brook Side Bear.