Symonds delighted after missing dogs are found

Trainer Tom Symonds on Tuesday breathed a huge sigh of relief after his pet terriers Aidan and Timber, who had been missing since Saturday afternoon, were found.

Symonds, who is based near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, reached out via social media for help in the search for his beloved animals, which concluded when Timber returned home on Tuesday and was able to lead the trainer to where Aidan had become stuck underground.

"We're very, very lucky," said Symonds. "They disappeared at about 4pm on Saturday without a trace.

"It wasn't that far from our house, but when one dog went back in the hole to show us where the other one was, you couldn't hear him for love nor money, so we wouldn't have known he was there.

"I started digging and could hear the other behind the mud and when a little hole broke into the burrow there was all this warm air, so I knew he was still breathing; it was like finding something out of an earthquake. He's very lucky and he wouldn't have been able to get out himself.

"For them to go off is very unusual, but to go off together was very strange. I was convinced they couldn't both get stuck, but obviously one did. It's amazing how it distracts you.

"I know they're dogs and not people, but you just wonder and would rather find them in any state, so we're lucky to find them alive and kind of well. It's their own stupidity, but will terriers learn? No, they won't, but we'll keep a closer eye on them."

Turning his attention to equine matters, Symonds could field the useful Hollywoodien in the BetBright Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday or the William Hill High 5 Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury on the same day.

Symonds added: "I like the Newbury race and his owners Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings won it with Isio in 2004.

"At the top level I think Hollywoodien struggles over two miles - he hasn't got the pace for that - but if the race at Doncaster looked easier, which on entries it does, we'll go there. I just want to win basically.

The six-year-old is Betfair's 4-1 second favourite for the Doncaster contest and 12-1 with Paddy Power for the Greatwood Gold Cup.