Racing manager Gary Baiden has explained why he has approved the return of trainer Ian Wills to Oxford.

Wills, a double champion trainer at Cowley, left the track a few months ago to join sister GRA track Hall Green after much deliberation.

Now, however, he wants to return after the Birmingham track reduced their prize money and he felt the travelling from his Forest Hill base was too much.

Baiden said: “I have given him his job back here, because I promised he could have until December 31 to make a decision.

“I will not go back on my word despite the fact that we will have too many greyhounds available for grading.

“To that end I would encourage trainers to look at other options that might be available to them, for example increase your open racing schedule and don’t discount the option of dual attachment.”

It means that the grading time in trials will be the lowest on record with hounds having to clock 27.90 to grade on and puppies 28 seconds.

Questioned on the decision, Baiden reckons that over the year’s the shape and condition of the track has improved immensely and feels it’s the right action to take.

Furthermore, the racing office has restricted Monday trials to six per trainer.

However, 595m trials can be added without being included in the six.

They will also continue the policy of re-trialling poor performances and serve a ten-day restriction on that retrial.

Any greyhound knocked over will also have retrial, but will be given a trial before racing to get back on the card.

Wills said: “I am grateful to Gary for keeping his word on the three months grace he allowed me if things didn't work out.”

l TRAINER Richard Yeates who scored a treble in the first meeting of the year, has put his treble major Oxford races winner Jolly Poacher away for the winter.