THE run of the mill BAGS meetings at Oxford will get a big boost with the introduction of open racing in July.

The idea comes from the website Greyhound Scene which is mainly made up of owners and trainers, and should boost the attendances.

The races are not expected to be top class, but will add variety to the card.

  • RICHARD Yeates’s prolific open race winner Freedom Emma trotted up at Hove along with Oxford top grader Tipp Are Back.

Emma now goes for the £1,000 bitches Stakes at Wimbledon on Derby finals night, before settling down for a crack at the Pall Mall.

Still with the Pall Mall, trainer Nick Colton saw his Jolly Poacher, unbeaten at Oxford, post a superb time of 26.64.

But he was a little disappointed with Jay Tee Hawk, brought over from Ireland for the big one, who clocked 27.20 on his second look at the track.