It's eyes down and look in as the GRA announce that former bingo boss Mark Beattie is the new general manager at Oxford Stadium.

The 32-year-old, who has wide experience in the leisure industry, will be taking up the reins on March 1.

Beattie has worked for both Granada and Mecca, the latter as general manager of Birmingham's biggest bingo club - one of the top ten clubs in the country.

A greyhound fan for most of his life, he was introduced to the sport by his grandfather at the age of ten, and has loved it ever since.

He has been an owner for the past five years, with runners at all the Midland tracks.

Married with three children and two ex-racers, Beattie said: "I am delighted to be joining the GRA and have the opportunity to work in the industry that has given me and my family so much pleasure.

"I have no illusions of the challenge ahead, but cannot wait to get started."

GRA managing director Clive Feltham said: "We have invested heavily in Oxford since our purchase way back in 1998, which included last year the opening of excutive suites and the extension and complete refurbishment of the Lower Grandstand.

Mark will add a youthful dimension to the group and I am confident he will succeed at the task."

Monique Audifferen is the new operations manager at the Stadium, with Sarah Buy taking her old job as PA to the new general manager.

A human race will feature at the Ladbroke Charity night in aid of the NSPCC and Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust on Thursday.

The all-trophy card's ranks will be swelled by coachloads of Ladbroke and Stan James punters.

Stadium shortlisted Oxford Stadium is in the running for the regional track of the year in the West Midlands and West category of the industry's annual Racecourse of the Year award.

They will be hoping their name comes out on top in the British Greyhound Racing Board William Hill Awards at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham tomorrow night.

Oxford, a winner two years ago, will be competing against Swindon, Perry Barr, Reading, Monmore and Hall Green.

Ranger Man, trained by Ron Bicknell, and Skeard Tiney, trained by Gilly Hepden, have won the top accolades in the Oxford Owners' Association's top dogs of the year.

The awards are open only to greyhounds whose owners are members of the Oxford Owners' Association.

Strong entry for Trafalgar Cup The Mike Alan Trafalgar Cup, the first big race of the year at Cowley, gets under way on Tuesday, and with the event heavily oversubscribed, the racing office had to sift carefully through to get the top 18 entries.

Brian Clemenson has a good hand with Cooly Cougar and Crack Him Out, to follow up his Cesarewitch victory with Solid Magic.

The first two in each heat go through to next Saturday's £1,500 final.

TUESDAY'S HEATS

Heat 1: Melbridann, Columbas Jack, Farloe Porty, Crack Him Out, Ask Shane, Dan De Lion. Heat 2: Broadacres Vinny, Peru, Stuart Little, Cooly Cougar, Top Blue Honcho, Droopys Tardelli. Heat 3: Ferryforth Zola, Seikcin Mit, Unique Time, Castle Casper, Knockevan Hollie, Toss Small.

Melody to call the tune The Ron Bicknell-trained Melody Lad can prove a hit in the A1 over 450 metres at the Stadium tonight.

TONIGHT'S RUNNERS

7.35: Dainty Dancer, SORT THE BILL, Aha In Detail, Scary Movie, There Goes Thad, Killarney Breeze 3.

7.50: SEEN NIKITA, Lovely Eyes, Kingdom Swallow, Trust Fund, West Cork Pride 3, Nottage Man.

8.05: Lord Banbury, FABULOUS PRINCE, Sineads Rover, Villa Bay 3, Bay Hill, Toker Dew.

8.20: Bruin Nightmare, Pint Puller 3, Linden Fancy, Somewally Angel, Shanksey, PEARL TRADER.

8.35: Elmcrown Daniel, True Snatch, West Cork Pet, ARDREIGH RIVER, Fast Rumble, Penn Poacher 3.

8.50: Baby Nell, Pennie Drive, GOODLUCKUNTANKS, Angies Pride 3, Macho Paddy, Suffolk Lady.

9.05: KILCASH TROUBLE, Cambridge, Rickshaw Peer, Carrow Puzzle, Tiger Chad, Honest Ivan 3.

9.20: Goodnight Ranger, Bobs Duchess, Loughteen Blaze 3, Suirview Rose, Tiger Keane, OTMOOR FOX.

9.35: Apple Minuka 3, Nikita Park, Kellsboro Hope, Kishlawn Diamond, Orlando James, EL CARDINAL.

9.50: Corrough Judy 3, Yapping Shop, Seskin Frisby, Tinas Miss, STARLIGHT JO, Tiger Rogue.

10.05: Roses Rally, MELODY LAD, Dunbolg Rumble, Fast Grand, Knockard Emma, Botanic King 3.

10.20: Sweeping Fintan 3, Rubys Lots, Im Not Saying, FIFTH WONDER, Allifsandbuts, Clonleigh Prince.

10.35: IVER SPECIAL, Dynamo Phatness, Loughteen Peer, Top Draw, Knockrour Little, Dashing Merson 3.

Nap: Starlight Jo.

YESTERDAY'S BAGS RESULTS

11.26: 1 BANKERS GLORY 9-4 fav, 2 Magiorino 4-1. Trio: (1x2x4). Trainer: Curtin. Time: 28.10.

11.41: 1 HOLLIES CHOICE 7-2 co fav, 2 Too Powerful 5-1. Trio: (5x2x1). Trainer: Kibble. Fabulous Yes (1), Roberts Peer (3) 7-2 co favs. Time: 27.74.

11.55: 1 NOODLES FANCY 5-2 fav, 2 Broadacres Flyer 3-1. Trio: (1x4x5). Trainer: Hepden. Time: 27.79.

12.09: 1 EARTH MOTHER 5-1, 2 Curley Michael 5-1. Trio: (5x6x4). Trainer: Magnasco. Autumn Universe (4) 5-2 fav. Time: 28.19.

12.23: 1 BROADACRES JERRY 6-1, 2 Hideaway Millie 7-2. Trio: (6x5x3). Trainer: Massey. Nobody Will Know (4) 9-4 fav. Time: 27.61.

12.37: 1 GLADSTONE REGENT 6-1, 2 Bruin Madnnas 4-1. Trio: (6x5x1). Trainer: Kibble. Trinca Dubh (2) 5-2 fav. Time: 38.18.

12.51: 1 CLONBRIN MAGIC 7-2, 2 Mountview Bob 3-1 jt fav. Trio: (2x3x1). Trainer: Atkins. Lightning Viper (6) 3-1 jt fav. Time: 27.80.

1.06: 1 LISSARDA DENYM 7-2, 2 Bandon Ace 8-1. Trio: (4x6x5). Trainer: Walden. Tullyvin Wolf (3) 9-4 fav. Time: 27.65.

1.19: 1 EASY DILEMMA 3-1, 2 Exiles Dream 6-1. Trio: (2x3x1). Trainer: Kibble. Official Sound (4) 2-1 fav. Time: 27.63.