OXFORD is to stage a Williamhill.com Greyhound Derby trial stakes at Sandy Lane next month.

It is believed to be the first time an event such as this has been held at Oxford.

Up for grabs for the winner is a free entry for the sport’s blue riband worth £250, as well as £100 prize money.

The race is on Thursday, April 12 and will give Oxford punters a chance to see some good class hounds attempting a tilt at the classic, which is worth £1,125 to the winner in the final at Wimbledon on Saturday, May 26.

It could prove a golden opportunity for the few Oxford hounds who could lay claim, but the opposition will be very hot.

  • THE Richard Baker-trained Dishoftheday was crowned Bitch of the Year at last week’s Owners Association meeting.

Other awards for three wins in a row went to Meghans Teddy, (Steve Rayner), Ballymac Shane (Gilly Hepden) and Milton Cooper (Tony Magnasco).

  • BOOKMAKERS Ladbrokes are sponsoring the 2012 Pall Mall, Oxford’s only Group 1 event in June.

Other GRA races backed by them include the Laurels at Wimbledon and Blue Riband at Hall Green.

  • THE Greyhound Board of Great Britain have introduced a new rule requiring trainers to have two qualifying trials instead of three.
  • REMEMBER that giant greyhound who descended on Oxford and the other 24 tracks in the country last year?

Well, he is on the road again after a great reaction in 2011.

The 2012 campaign, devised and managed by former William Hill man David Hood, began at Swindon last week.

It would be nice if, this year, the limousine with the bunny atop, could spend some more time in the stadium instead of in the car park like last time.

  • TOMORROW sees the heats of the Easter Bunny competition, sponsored by the Great Britain Racing Board (GBRB) taking place at Oxford.

There will be two heats, over 250 and 450 metres, with the first three from each heat moving into the finals.

Winners will receive £200, while the eventual champions receive £350 and trophy.