THE Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust has been handed a double cash boost, thanks to the efforts of Ballymac Ace.

The first came by way of a donation of £600 from Sky television presenter Jonathan Hobbs and his boss Jim Cremin, from the Racing Post.

Bookmaker Stan James, who sponsored the Pall Mall at Oxford, gave them a free bet for charity, which they plunged on Ballymac Ace, and they nominated the Oxford RGT to receive the cash.

The second, one of £500, was donated by owner Tony Kennett and his staff of Cinram Logistics UK based in Aylesbury.

The task of finding homes for retired or injured greyhounds continues as every new home has to be vetted and new owners supplied with a starting pack.

Meanwhile, organisers of the Great British Greyhound Walk organisers were delighted with the weekend turn-out.

The walks took place simultaneously throughout the UK including in Oxford where 26 hounds and lurchers took part at Shotover Country Park to promote the need for rehoming greyhounds.

More funds will be raised tomorrow at The Wheatsheaf in Oakley Road, Chinnor where Oxford owners Paul and Pauline Clay stage a fun day with a barbecue (2pm).

l THE Nick Colton-trained Tic Tic Boom is off lame and and will now be prepared for the Irish Grand National.

Injured op sprinter Jolly Poacher faces around eight weeks on the sidelines.

There is better news, however, with JT Tiger running well on his open race debut at Nottingham and Rising Ruby finishing third after taking a bump at the first bend at Wimbledon onTuesday.

l TRAINER Paddy Curtin is has streaked 13 winners clear of champion Michael Peterson in the Oxford Trainers Championship after a successful June. Curtin has 150 winners to Peterson’s 137.

l THE GRA have made the managers at Perry Barr and Hall Green Stadiums – Ste-phen Rea and Carol Chown-Smith respectively – redundant.