The Foxhole Syndicate could face an National Greyhound Racing Club inquiry after refusing to run their greyhound Terrydrum Max at Oxford.

The dog, who had won two previous A2 races from traps five and six, was the subject of an unauthorised withdrawal from the owners on Tuesday.

It came about because the connections felt that the outside traps were not best suited to the dog, preferring to class Max as a middle runner.

Racing manager Gary Baiden said: "We were not happy that it was pulled out, leaving us with a five-dog race.

"The owners felt that he was not a wide runner, but having won two races from the outside traps we felt his seeding as a wide runner was justified.

"The owners have decided to take their dogs away from Oxford, so it will be left to the NGRC to take the appropriate action."

A preliminary inquiry will be held under NGRC area stipendary steward Colin Betteridge, which could result in a full NGRC inquiry.

*OXFORD'S first big race of the new year, normally the Trafalgar Cup, will be superseded by the Blanchfords Building Supplies Oxfordshire Trophy.

It's the third year running the local company will sponsor the event, which carries a winner's prize of £1,500.

The heats will take place on Tuesday, January 30, with the final, as well as supporting open races, being run on Saturday, February 3.

It will be an all-trophy finals night.

* THE popular Boxing Day meeting, which normally gets under way at 11am, will now start at 10.47am and will be a BAGS meeting with 12 races.

The New Year's Eve meet- ing will begin at 2.21pm with ten races and entry is free - unlike the Boxing Day meeting which is £6 per person, including a race card.

*MANY stalwarts at Oxford Stadium will be sad to hear of the death of fellow patron John Russell.

Better known as Jack, he owned dogs mainly of the Deenside prefix with Bicester trainer Maurice Massey.

He also co-owned Ladys Daughter with yours truly.

*THE trainer who looks like being crowned champion this year is Paddy Curtin. He has sent out no fewer than 12 winners over the past week and leads the table.

*TRAINER Terry Atkins has taken on another Alan Stevens runner in Air Force Vader, who has been running at Swindon.

But Atkins has decided to retire Lughill Taff and intends putting him to stud.

Kibble's promising pup, Reenview Sean, a February 2005 whelp, has won six of his 11 races reaching an A2 from A8 grade.

*THE star of Monday's trial session was Droopys Robster, trained by Dean Childs, who posted a fine 27.31secs over four bends.