FORMER champion tra-iner Paddy Curtin has set his stall out early in this year’s competition.

The Gaydon-based handler, who won the title in 2006, banged in no less than seven winners at Sunday’s BAGS meeting to race into a healthy 11-point lead over nearest challenger Angie Kibble.

Last year’s winner, Michael Peterson, is back in third.

Curtin’s 3,000-1 seven winner tally is the best feat by a trainer for a number of years.

How they stand: P Curtin 52, A Kibble 42, M Peterson 35, T Magnasco 34, T Kibble 32, R Hannan, M Massey 25, N Colton 24, R BIcknell 21, G Hepden, S Rayner 20, R Yeates 12, T Atkins, J Mayo 4, I Wills 0.

  • OXFORD Stadium is the place to be on a Saturday night judging by the last four weeks figures.

Saturday’s crowd total reached the 1,100 mark including 350 diners.