Just when you thought there was enough racing going on at the moment, some tracks will now race on Good Friday - one of the few days that all those connected with the sport could have as a day off.

Is nothing sacred?

Corals decided to race and the GRA quickly followed. But, thankfully, Oxford, with its already loaded schedule, has opted out, as has sister track Perry Barr.

Oxford already race on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and hold trials on Monday.

Even one week with a Friday meeting would be tad too far for the greyhounds, owners and trainers.

I had to chuckle when trainer Maurice Massey, whose charge, Ruling Storm was making a comeback after a seven month lay-off, saw the bookies offering only 5-2 about the once classy performer.

Massey declared. with a smile on his face: "Look at that, he's been off for 12 years!"

Storm has been sidelined with a double gracilis injury since last July - one of the more serious muscle injuries - and before that was top class over both four and six bends.

Needless to say, the bookies were right, and Massey was rewarded for his patience with the dog as he came home in good style to land the A5.

Racing manager Gary Baiden believes The Pattinson Construction Trafalgar Gold Cup, which gets under way in two weeks time has attracted the best quality so far in the ten years in which the event has been at Cowley.

Over 30 trials have been booked for potential candidates for the 18-runner race which moved to Oxford a decade ago.

IN-FORM trainer Michael Peterson is not letting the grass grow under his feet, having taken in seven new hounds from the Thurles sales.

Among them is Malbay Rooney, a £3,500 purchase, a winner of five of his nine races in Ireland and earmarked for the Pall Mall.

PAUL Saxton, head of maintenance at the Stadium, has been confirmed as Clerk of the Course at Sandy Lane.