The battle for the 2008 trainers' championship is reaching red-hot proportions, and is certainly capturing the imagination of the Oxford punters.

Reigning champion Ian Wills looked on course for a double as he has led for most the past nine months, but all of a sudden the Standlake kennels of Angie Kibble have hit top form and now she heads a quartet of Wills, and outsiders Paddy Curtin and Michael Peterson in a bid to land this year's crown.

Kibble, no stranger to the title top dog and Queen of Cowley, indeed, she won the title six years on the trot, and only former trainers Litzi Miller, who won seven in a row, and Henry Kibble, father of Terry Kibble, can boast more title victories over the last 40 years or so.

She landed 40 winners last month, 12 more than Wills, with Curtin and Peterson trailing by 17 and 13 respectively. She is now on 257 winners, Wills 251, Curtin 231 and Peterson 219.

It all points to an exciting finish with new kid on the block Peterson, Oxford's youngest trainer, probably having too much to do.

However, Wills has been installed as 4-5 favourite with bookmakers RD Racing and says: "I think the title rests between me and Angie, but I believe she will prevail because I am sending a lot of runners open racing at present."

Kibble, well fancied at even money is relishing the battle, and said: "I will be doing my best and with a kennel of nice litters."

Peterson, a 10-1 shot, and if successful will be the youngest trainer to pull it off, said: "I am giving it 100 per cent and going all out to win the title. I have a good kennel at the moment."

Curtin, the 2006 champion outsider at 14-1 said: "My main priority is towards my owners and I hope to continue providing them with winners. If I can win the title again, it will be a bonus."

OTHER TRAINERS & WINNERS

T Magnasco (20 winners last month, total 160, M Massey (19) 154, Gilly Hepden (16) 146, T Kibble (14) 145, R Bicknell (9) 141, J Mayo (16) 130, P Clarke (8) 122, R Hannan (11) 105, T Atkins (20) 85, S Rayner (3) 3, G Stringer (now retired) 64.