The William Hill Pall Mall, Oxford's biggest race of the year is set to get bigger - if racing manager Gary Baiden has his way.

There were more than 70 entries for the early season classic and with only 36 being accommodated for the £8,000 first prize, there were an awful lot of disappointed owners and trainers.

Now Baiden is confident of getting the go ahead to increase the entries to 48 from next year after consulting with GRA racing boss Bob Rowe.

Meanwhile, there were some fine performances as the competition got under way with the first round heats on Thursday.

None more so than from Trafalgar Cup finalist Seanis Lad, who set a red-hot pace in the opener, winning easily in a cracking 26.49secs which proved to be the fastest of the night.

Milldean Flash followed up some good performances in the Arc by coming home in good style in 26.64, while Spears Tarquynn, runner-up in the Oxfordshire Trophy, conquered Trafalgar Cup winner Drink Up Zorro with a storming finish in 26.98.

The Maurice Massey-trained Positive Step qualified in third spot after crowding at the start, but there was no luck for Angie Kibble's Isle Of Tara. Despite a blistering start, she was edged out at the first bend.

The heat went to Tonetta Balboa, who just prevailed over early leader Crosskey Razor in 26.83.

Oxfordshire Trophy winner Brickfield Class completed a hat-trick here when taking his heat in 26.88, but it was all so close as the Reading runner cramped badly in the later stages allowing the fast finishing Conker All to get within a short head.

Heat two also needed a photo-finish to separate Unique Option and Ronnies Hustle with the former getting the verdict by a head in 26.75.

TUESDAY'S SEMI-FINAL DRAW Heat 1: Brickfield Class, Spears Tarquynn, Conker All, Drink Up Zorro, Blink De Bookies, Stormy Forty.

Heat 2: Farloe Rio, Raging Jack, Positive Step, Tonetta Bilboa, Seanis Lad, Vigorous Zico.

Heat 3: Ronnies Hustle, Swhimarsdylan, Love Tiger, Crosskeys Razor, Mildean Flash, Unique Option.