Clonmel Racing Manager Eddie Anderson is cautiously optimistic of the benefits to the track following the GRI announcement yesterday that the Tipperary track is to join the SIS service in January.

Eddie said: “I’ll be absolutely honest and say I’m not sure what the implications will be; I haven’t heard much more than is on the website. My first thought is that it will be good for the future of the track, but how things like prize money will be affected I don’t know. The statement said that the tracks will have minimum prize money of €60 from €40, though it said ‘GRI tracks’, not privately owned tracks. Maybe we will get the same.

“I understand that the first round of novice stakes will be off the table, but beyond that I am guessing. Will SIS only want low grade races or will we be allowed to run opens? If we are, will we will need the prize money levels of the other tracks or the trainers won’t come.

“We have a very good local pool of dogs, even though some of the owners travel to Waterford or Youghal for the better money. If we get similar money, it would be very welcome and save a lot of people travelling.

“At the moment, my main concentration is on a greyhound sale a week Friday. After that I will look at how we will be affected. We know that our first meeting in on January 7, and that during January I traditionally put on trialstakes for the big unraced stake where we hold the final during coursing week. There will be a lot to consider, but overall I think most of the local dog men will view this announcement as a positive.”

Laughil Jess WILL finish as the leading open race winner in 2023 having amassed 24 victories and just over three weeks of the racing year still to play out.

That is some going considering she didn’t make her debut until April 8. She currently boasts an 80% strike rate and the wins have come at Crayford (20), Harlow (1), Central Park (2) and Perry Barr (1).

Of the four runners on 16 wins, Links Maverick boasts the best strike rate of 89%.

Of the top five, only Signet Goofy, with two Cat 2 wins, hasn’t landed a Cat 1 this year.

The veteran hurdler Lenson Doolin has a 50% strike rate over a career of 76 opens.

A number of the runners will be looking to increase their tallys at Oxford and Hove this weekend.

The most notable with only one defeat in his 12 races to date is Hollow Man who is due to contest the Coral Olympic.