Management at Oxford Stadium say they are in no hurry to replace outgoing trainer Michael Peterson.

Even though there were no trials last week and none again next week due to drainage work, which should at last eliminate problems when heavy rain falls, the racing strength is a healthy 400.

Peterson, who is due to hand in his licence at the end of May, has surprisingly not lost any of his owners.

But that is sure to change over the next few weeks.

Meantime, there is speculation that a former Oxford handler is very interested in making a return to Sandy Lane.

Several applications have already reportedly been turned down.

* Oxford stalwart Michael Clifford has died after a long illness. Together with his wife Irene, they were owners with trainer Paul Clarke for many years.

* The Cousins brothers, Bernard and Tony, long standing owners with Angie Kibble, have invested heavily in two pups by the 2004 derby hotpot Premier Fantasy-Midway Skipper.

The pups, now eight months old, are already impressing all around them and will carry the Builders prefix.

Premier Fantasy was all the rage at 4-7 in the final that year, but suffered a broken hock.

Previous to that, he had won all four qualifiers at odds-on and in all won 11 of his 16 races.

* Qualifiers for the BAGS/SIS finals on Sunday included winners Coolmakee Julee (Gilly Hepden), Teens Adventure (Johnny Mayo) and Millbank Seanie (Ron Bicknell). Runners-up who are also through are Greencroft Vieri, Rock It Luanchio and Pennys * Trainer Tony Magnasco is enjoying a good spell with his prolific stud dog Ardmayle Hawk, who has sired two litters of nine by Droopys Willow and Final Rinmore.

Both litters yielded five dogs and four bitches, now eight and ten months old respectively.

Meanwhile, Terry Kibble and Johnny Mayo make a four-pronged attack on the Hove open races tomorrow with Dippy Doo and Finnside Scholar (Kibble) and Glencorbry Haka and Ballymac Nap (Mayo).

* Friday the 13th may have been unlucky for some, but not trainer Gilly Hepden and the staff at her Chalford kennels, near Chipping Norton.

Coolmakee Julee (7-4 fav), landed the £500 BAGS/SIS Sweepstake final, beating Rock It Luanchlo by three quarters of a length.