3:01pm Friday 29th August 2008
GREYHOUNDS: Kisskissbangdang is becoming a firm favourite at Oxford after winning his third open out of five at Sandy Lane when landing the Stadium Bookmakers Standard over 450m on Tuesday.
The black dog, owned by Kevin Dighton and trained at Blackthorn by Maurice Massey, had earlier won two events over the two bends.
He showed he can trap from anywhere, after posting 3.70, the fastest sectional of the night.
Strangely, he was ignored as favourite in the market at 5-2 with Ron Bicknell's fast finishing Hondo Mac installed as the 2-1 jolly.
Mac was left to make up some 0.22 spots at the start and although running on, was beaten by one and three quarter lengths.
However, the betting boots were on when Massey's other top line runner, Positive Step, tried his hand again at the staying game.
Going off at 6-4 favourite, Positive Step moved into overdrive from the traps and soon went almost a dozen lengths clear of his field, and looked home and hosed, only for Swindon raider Swift Dougal to rein him in at the death to win by half a length.
It proved a cracking night - a nice change on a Tuesday, which is normally very quiet.
Six open races on the card made all the difference and the two bookies on the rails were very busy on the packed terracing.
They won't mind that, however. New bookmaker Steve Harris will occupy the No 3 berth a week on Monday.
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